



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 





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“He fled across No Man’s Land, when suddenly, the report of a 
rifle was heard” 


Page 221 




I 

BOB COOK’S BROTHER 
IN THE TRENCHES 


i£3, 

I hQ-t 


BY 

PAUL G. TOMLINSON 

Author of “Bob Cook and the German Spy/* 
ete., etc. 


ILLUSTRATED BY 
CHARLES L. WRENN 


NEW YORK 

BARSE & HOPKINS 

PUBLISHERS 


THE FLAG AND COUNTRY SERIES 

By Paul G. Tomlinson 

12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Prise per volume 7 5 cents , 
postpaid. 

BOB COOK AND THE GERMAN SPY 
BOB COOK AND THE GERMAN AIR FLEET 
BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN THE TRENCHES 
( Other volumes in preparation) 

BARSE & HOPKINS 

Publishers New York 


Copyright, 1918, 

by 

Barse & Hopkins 

Bol) Cook’s Brother in the Trenches 


JUN 20 1318 


©CI.A499392 


PREFACE 


The interest of the young readers in the preced- 
ing volumes of this series provides the explana- 
tion for this new hook. The author sincerely hopes 
that his young friends will still be glad to follow 
the fortunes of Bob Cook and his brother. All 
the incidents used in this tale are based upon au- 
thentic reports from the Front. The writer has 
endeavored to make his young heroes neither un- 
naturally brave nor pretematurally daring. They 
are simply normal American boys, doing what 
thousands of others are doing to-day. Their ad- 
ventures are not unlike those which many of our 
American soldiers on the Western Front are shar- 
ing. 



CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I The Artillery Speaks 11 

II In the Dark 23 

III A Prisoner 31 

IV On Patrol 44 

V An Odd Occurrence 55 

VI Into the Mist 65 

VII Against Odds 79 

VIII A Man of Mystery 91 

IX A New Soldier 100 

X In the Air 112 

XI The Cry from the House 118 

XII The Search 128 

XIII More Suspicions 137 

XIV At the Listening Post 147 

XV Wounded 157 

XVI Bob Returns 166 

XVII The Fight in the Clouds 175 

XVIII The Patrol 184 

XIX A Stealthy Approach 195 

XX A Double Summons 205 

XXI Harold Falls 214 

XXII The Coming of Hoffmann . . . . . 224 

XXIII The Light in the Window 233 

XXIV Conclusion 243 



ILLUSTRATIONS 


“He fled across No Man’s Land, when suddenly the 
report of a rifle was heard” .... Frontispiece 

FACING 

PAGE 

“‘Give ’em a couple of bombs, Howard V" ... 80 

“Seizing Harold by his shoulders he slowly dragged 

him back” 160 

“One bullet had found its way into the head of 
Hoffmann” 244 



BOB COOK’S BROTHER 
IN THE TRENCHES 


CHAPTER I 

THE ARTILLERY SPEAKS 

I T was night. A cold wind swept across No 
Man’s Land, chilling everything with its damp 
breath, and the rain fell in torrents. Every- 
where there was mud; the trenches were knee- 
deep with icy water and underneath the water 
was mud. The surrounding country was a waste 
of mud and slime. Walking was almost out of the 
question, while supply trains and ammunition- 
wagons often became so firmly imbedded in the 
sticky substance that much time and almost her- 
culean efforts were necessary to free them and 
start them on their way once more. 

In a dugout in the first line trenches were three 
men, all American officers. On the floor of their 
underground shelter was a small wood-burning 
11 


12 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


stove, and on it was a kettle of hot water, boiling 
in preparation for the making of tea. One of the 
men had just entered the dugout, and was now 
removing his rubber coat and hat. He hung them 
in the corner, and then approached the fire, ex- 
tending his hands to the warmth and rubbing them 
together briskly. 

“So this is sunny France,” he exclaimed dis- 
gustedly. “Personally I’ve only seen about two 
sunny days since I landed.” 

The speaker was Harold Cook. Upon the en- 
trance of the United States into the war he had 
received permission from the National Guard unit 
of which he was a member to attend the Reserve 
Officers Training Camp at Plattsburg. There he 
had been granted a commission as a first lieu- 
tenant of infantry and been sent to Camp Dix at 
Wrightstown, New Jersey. He had spent some 
time there training the men of the National Army 
and then soon had been sent abroad with an in- 
fantry regiment belonging to one of the divisions 
of the American Expeditionary Army. 

Several months had been spent in France in 
learning the latest methods of waging modern 
warfare. Grenade throwing, rifle and machine 
gun work, bayonet practice, the way to attack a 


THE ARTILLERY SPEAKS 


13 


hostile trench, every detail that a soldier should 
know before taking his place on the firing line 
were carefully taught and learned. At length 
their instructors decided that they knew their 
lessons well enough to move into the trenches. 
Their first visit there had been brief, just long 
enough to accustom them to what they might ex- 
pect under trench conditions, but now they were 
old hands at the game. The novelty had worn 
off and they realized that war is a grim, hard 
business. 

Harold Cook was rather slight in build, though 
strong and wiry, and possessed of an unusual 
amount of endurance. He had light brown hair, 
blue eyes, and a smile which no one could resist. 
But he did not smile as much as formerly; the 
Kaiser had tried to make the world do Germany’s 
bidding, and the result was that many people, 
whose lives had previously been happy and smil- 
ing, now looked older and more serious, there were 
lines on their faces and oftentimes a sad expres- 
sion around their eyes. Harold Cook’s eyes 
showed that he had become a man in experience, 
even though he was still a boy in years. War 
leaves its mark on every one whose path it crosses. 

The Cook family had responded patriotically 


14 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


to the call of their country. Mr. Cook’s factory 
was engaged in the manufacture of war supplies 
for the government, Mrs. Cook and her daughter 
were among the most active workers in the Red 
Cross in their home town of High Ridge, and Har- 
old’s younger brother Bob was doing his bit. At 
the time of the American declaration of war Bob 
and his friend, Hugh Reith, were too young to 
enlist, but they had aided the government by the 
apprehension of a band of spies and plotters oper- 
ating in High Ridge. Later they had been ena- 
bled to cross the ocean to France and take service 
in the Lafayette Escadrille, the famous flying 
squadron which counted so many young Ameri- 
cans among its number; they had distinguished 
themselves, and later on had been transferred to 
the United States Army. Right now they were 
attached to one of the American squadrons oper- 
ating over the front, held by their fellow Ameri- 
cans. 

“I guess you don’t like this weather, do you!” 
observed one of the officers in the dugout, reply- 
ing to Harold’s remark. 

‘ 4 Like it!” exclaimed Harold. “I despise it. 
The only thing that can exist in this kind of place 
is a duck.” 


THE ARTILLERY SPEAKS 


15 


“How about a fish?” laughed Captain Norris, 
for that was the name of the officer who had ad- 
dressed the remark to Harold. 

“A fish would be even better off,” grumbled 
Harold. “I never saw such weather.” 

“Stop growling,” observed the third member 
of the party. “We can’t help the rain. Have 
some tea.” 

The latest speaker was Lieutenant George Car- 
ter, a young man slightly older than Harold. He 
was rather short, but exceedingly stocky; his 
shoulders were broad, his chest deep, and he was 
possessed of unusual physical strength. He had 
jet black eyes and his head was covered with short- 
cropped curly hair. He had physical strength 
and physical courage as well ; in fact it was whis- 
pered about in his regiment that he was afraid 
of nothing on the face of the earth. Assigned 
to the same regiment and company as Harold, 
the two young lieutenants had become fast friends. 

Captain Norris was somewhat older than his 
two young aids. He was a graduate of West 
Point, a man whose opinions and ability were 
always respected by his fellow soldiers. He was 
tall, measuring nearly six feet three in height, 
but he was built proportionately. He was strong 


16 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


as a young bull, straight as an arrow, and tipped the 
scales at almost two hundred pounds ; in his uni- 
form he looked the ideal soldier. He wore a short, 
bushy mustache, his hair was decidedly blond, 
and as may be imagined his appearance was strik- 
ing in the extreme. 

“That’s right,” exclaimed Captain Norris. 
“Have some tea; it’ll make you feel better.” 

“It’s a bad night,” said Harold, drawing up a 
box which did duty as a chair. 

“Right,” observed Lieutenant Carter shortly. 
He was found of using short, snappy sentences. 

“Everything 0. K. up above?” inquired the 
captain. 

“As quiet as can be, sir,” replied Harold. 

“Too wet for old Fritz to come out to-night,” 
said George Carter. 

“I hope so,” said Harold. “Our men are un- 
comfortable enough as it is, without getting them 
up to slip and slide around in the mud. ’ ’ 

“Don’t be so sure that the Germans are quiet,” 
said Captain Norris. “It may be that they are 
planning some sort of a surprise party for us.” 

“Well, they’ll be the ones to get the surprise,” 
said Harold grimly. “The men are so mad at 
the weather that they’d like to take it out on some- 


THE ARTILLERY SPEAKS 


body. Heaven help any German who shows np 
within range to-night.” 

“We owe them something,” said Lieutenant 
Carter. 

“For that raid, you mean?” asked the captain. 

1 i Exactly. ’ ’ 

“That was our first trip out here,” said Cap- 
tain Norris, “and we were a little green. Next 
time they try to get funny they’ll find us ready.” 

Suddenly there was a violent thud which seemed 
to be directly on top of the dugout. The three 
men stopped talking and looked at one another 
inquiringly, their tea cups held in their right 
hands. 

“Close one,” said Carter, and then he took 
another sip of tea. 

A corporal entered the underground room and 
saluted. 

“What is it, Boyle?” asked Captain Norris. 

“The Dutchies are getting busy, sir,” an- 
nounced Boyle, who had a strong suggestion of 
a brogue in his voice. “They’re beginning to 
pepper us up above.” 

Another explosion followed, this time a little 
farther away. Then a series of crashes came in 
quick succession. Captain Norris sprang to the 


BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


telephone on the wall of the dugout; a moment 
later he had sent a message to artillery head- 
quarters, and soon the answering roar of the 
American artillery could be dimly heard. 

“Stay by the telephone, Carter,” he ordered. 
“We’ll go up and investigate this.” 

He quickly slipped on his raincoat, put on his 
metal helmet, and started out. Harold followed, 
and with Corporal Boyle, hurried after the cap- 
tain. 

The rain had ceased, but the cold wind smote 
their faces, and the mud was still very much in 
evidence. Weather conditions were ignored now, 
however. Crouching low behind the parapet Cap- 
tain Norris and Harold approached a sentry. 

“What’s up?” inquired Captain Norris. 

“Don’t know, sir,” replied the sentry. “They 
seem to be mad about something, but I can’t see a 
sign of them.” 

At that moment a mud-bespattered Yankee pri- 
vate slid over the parapet and fell into the 
trench. He scrambled to his feet and almost 
bumped into Captain Norris. He was a member 
of one of the patrols which nightly were sent out 
into No Man’s Land to do scout duty and bring 
back any news of the enemy. 


THE ARTILLERY SPEAKS 


19 


“Well?” demanded the captain. 

The man recognized the great bulk of his cap- 
tain at once. He saluted quickly and still panting 
from his quick trip, delivered his message. 

“They’re gathering for an attack, sir,” he 
puffed. “We was right up close to their barbed 
wire and could see ’em. There must be at least 
a battalion of ’em.” 

1 ‘ Tell that to Lieutenant Carter, ’ ’ Captain Nor- 
ris ordered Boyle shortly. “Lieutenant Cook, get 
your men ready. ’ ’ 

Boyle sprang for the entrance of the dugout 
and Harold hastened to carry out his captain’s 
instructions. There was no confusion in the 
trench, and no one seemed particularly excited. 
A spirit of grim determination was everywhere in 
evidence, and as a matter of fact the men seemed 
eager for the encounter. Every man knew what 
he was expected to do, and prepared to do it. That 
was all. 

Shells were dropping all around and all but 
the lookouts retired to the dugouts. The Germans 
were trying to batter down the American trenches, 
and cut the protecting wire entanglements in front 
of them so that their men could get through. 
They also laid a wall of bursting shells behind 


20 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


this particular section of the line to prevent the 
Americans from bringing up reenforcements. 
Luckily, owing to the mud, the enemy shells buried 
themselves deep in the earth before exploding, 
so that the damage they did was not as great as 
it would have been had the ground been dry. 

Meanwhile the American gunners were not idle. 
They gave the Germans shell for shell and a 
few extra for good measure. The great metal 
messengers of death went screaming overhead in 
a continuous procession, bearing the answer of 
the free American citizens to the Germans’ boast 
that they were entitled to rule the world. 

Every few moments a sentry stuck his head into 
the dugout where Harold and his men were wait- 
ing, to give them word of any new developments. 
From the American trench a steady stream of 
star shells was sent out over No Man’s Land to 
light up that forlorn district, and disclose the ap- 
proach of the enemy. 

In the dugouts the men sat around quietly, but 
grimly waiting. Every soldier examined his rifle, 
made sure that his ammunition was in place, and 
thoughtfully ran his finger along the razor-like 
edge of his bayonet. The bombers held their sup- 
ply of hand-grenades ready for instant use, while 


THE ARTILLERY SPEAKS 


21 


the machine gunners made a last inspection of 
their weapons. It was seldom that any one spoke. 

Overhead and on all sides the shells roared and 
crashed. Word came down that one of the sen- 
tries had been killed, and Harold ordered another 
man up to take his place, while he dispatched a 
squad of men to make what repairs they could to 
the damaged section of the trench. 

“The sons-o’-guns!” muttered Boyle. “We’ll 
fix ’em!” 

The bombardment increased in intensity. The 



tinuous roar and the ground fairly shook under 
the incessant pounding of the projectiles. Harold 
looked around at his men ; not one of them showed 
the least sign of fear ; rather it was eagerness to 
have the fight commence which manifested itself 
upon the countenances of the American soldiers. 
They wanted to get out and engage the Huns hand 
to hand, not sit in an underground room and wait, 
like rabbits in a burrow. 

Harold noted the men’s expressions and he 
smiled proudly. He knew that whatever happened, 
they could be relied upon to give a good account of 
themselves, and there was not one of them who 
could not be trusted in almost every emergency. 


22 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


These Yankee boys had crossed the ocean to fight 
Germans, they were determined that the world 
should be kept free, and now that the time had 
come to show their mettle, they were not going 
to fail. 

For fifteen minutes the bombardment continued. 
Then as suddenly as it had commenced, it ceased. 
Immediately a sentry poked his nose into the 
entrance to the dugout. 

‘ 4 Here they come ! ” he cried. 


CHAPTER II 


IN THE DAKK 

H AROLD at once ordered his men out in 
the dugout. Every soldier sprang to his 
post, for they all knew exactly what to do, 
and there was no confusion of any kind. Star 
shells, sent up from the American trenches, lighted 
up No Man’s Land, and under the ghastly glare of 
the rockets a line of German infantry could he 
seen approaching. The German artillery now 
started in again, and a wall of bursting shells 
was laid down in front of the attacking troops; 
behind this wall of steel and fire the gray-clad 
Germans came on. 

Another line of German shells was falling be- 
hind the American trench, cutting oft any hope 
of reenforcements, and preventing any with- 
drawal, should such a thing seem necessary. 
The German projectiles also had torn great 
gaps in the barbed-wire entanglements in 
23 


24 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


front of the American trenches; through these 
gaps the Germans hoped to send their men. 
The trenches too had been battered severely; 
some of the sand bags had been blown away en- 
tirely, and certain sections of the defenses had 
been almost entirely destroyed. 

But the Americans were ready and prepared 
to meet their foes. Machine guns had been quickly 
set in place and soon their sharp rat-a-tat-tat min- 
gled with the noise of the cannon. The American 
artillery, too, was exceedingly busy. As Harold 
peered over the parapet he saw a star shell burst 
directly over the heads of a squad of oncoming 
Germans; at almost the same instant a shell ex- 
ploded in the midst of the attacking enemy, and 
a gap appeared in their lines. For a moment 
they faltered, then their lines filled up again and 
on they came. 

The American soldiers were almost beside 
themselves in their excitement. They wanted to 
jump out of their positions and meet the Germans 
in the open. Harold somehow expected such an 
order to be given and he glanced along the trench 
to the spot where the great bulk of Captain Norris 
was dimly visible in the darkness. The captain 
was crouching behind a machine-gun emplace- 


IN THE DARK 


25 


ment, as calm as if he was a spectator at a football 
game. 

A shrapnel shell burst on the trench, and two 
men went down. One of the flying pieces of metal 
struck Harold’s steel helmet a glancing blow, 
nearly knocking him off his feet. 

Corporal Boyle, who was standing alongside, 
caught him before he could fall, however. “Are 
you hurt?” he demanded anxiously. He seemed 
to feel that he had a special mission to look out 
for his young lieutenant. 

“Not a bit,” said Harold readily. “It didn’t 
hit me squarely.” 

“An’ they better not,” muttered Boyle fiercely. 
“Sure you’re all right?” 

“A bit groggy,” said Harold. “I’ll be over it 
in a minute.” 

Just then Captain Norris came along the trench. 
“We’re going out to meet them in a minute,” he 
announced. ‘ ‘ Have your men ready. ’ ’ He passed 
on. 

Harold’s dizziness, caused by the blow he had 
received on his head, soon disappeared and he 
gave the necessary instructions to the men under 
his command. The news that they were not to 
wait for the Germans to come all the way to their 


26 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


positions was greeted with enthusiasm. Boyle 
in particular was greatly pleased. 

“Let us at ’em!” he cried. “We’ll show the 
divils. ’ ’ 

The Germans were now within easy rifle range, 
and the American marksmen were busy. The ma- 
chine guns, sounding like steel riveting machines, 
were also becoming more and more active; they 
sprayed the approaching German infantry with 
a steady hail of bullets. 

Suddenly Captain Norris gave the order, and 
with a cheer the Americans sprang from their 
trenches, and at double quick hurried out into 
No Man’s Land to meet the foe. They poured 
through the openings in the barbed wire, which 
the German shells had made, and presently found 
themselves in the comparatively open spaces be- 
yond. Shell holes pitted the surface of the ground ; 
many of them were filled with water from the re- 
cent rains, and everywhere the mud was present. 

The men slipped and floundered about, and 
more than one unfortunate plunged waist-deep 
into some water-filled shell-crater. But on they 
went, cheering and shouting. In a very short time 
they had come to grips with their enemies. Bayo- 
nets flashed wickedly, and many a shining steel 


IN THE DARK 


27 


blade became dyed with red. The grenade throw- 
ers hurled their bombs wherever they saw a knot 
of Germans collected, men fought with knives, 
the butts of their guns, and sometimes with bare 
hands. 

It was a weird and terrible scene. Harold was 
here, there and everywhere, cheering and encour- 
aging his men. He had emptied several clips from 
his revolver and had reason to expect that his 
bullets had taken effect. And by his side fought 
Boyle. 

A big German made a rush at Harold. Cursing 
and gibbering, he stumbled forward, his bayonet 
fixed and ready to run the young officer through. 
In the excitement and confusion of the struggle 
Harold had not seen the man ; in fact his back was 
towards him. Boyle, too, had not seen him at 
first, and had only turned around in time to dis- 
cover the huge Boche almost upon them. He ut- 
tered a warning cry and Harold jumped. 

On account of the treacherous footing, how- 
ever, he slipped and fell. With an exulting shout 
the German leaped forward. But he had not 
reckoned with Boyle, who had been ignored by 
the German in his eagerness to account for the 
young lieutenant. 


28 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“Take that!” shouted Boyle at the top of his 
lungs, and he lunged forward savagely with his 
bayonet. He took the German from the side, and 
before the big Hun could stop or wheel to protect 
himself, the sharp blade had found its mark. With 
a hoarse grunt the German stumbled forward, 
sagged to his knees, and then sprawled on his 
face. Harold, who had been struggling to his feet, 
was knocked down by the great bulk of his enemy, 
and presently found himself pinned to the ground 
under the body of the German. 

* ‘ The son-uv-a-gun, ’ 9 cried Boyle angrily. 

He was mad for two reasons, first because he 
had been unable to withdraw his bayonet in time 
to prevent its being broken off when the German 
fell, and secondly because the German in falling 
had sprawled on top of Harold. 

“Lay still, Lieutenant,” he called. “I’ll get 
him off ye.” 

He seized the German by his left arm, and with 
a great effort rolled him over. Then he extended 
his hand to Harold and assisted him to his feet. 

“Are you hurt?” he exclaimed. 

Harold was wiping mud and blood from his face. 
“No,” he said shortly. 

‘ * That Dutchman nearly got you. ’ ’ 


IN THE DARK 


29 


“I know it,” said Harold. “Is he dead?” 

“I fixed that,” said Boyle. “The beggar broke 
me bayonet though.” 

“Take his,” said Harold. 

In falling, the German’s gun, with bayonet af- 
fixed, had slipped from his grasp, and now lay 
neglected on the ground. Boyle sprang to pick 
it up. 

Some one was quicker than he, however. As 
Boyle started forward some other American ap- 
peared out of the dark and snatched up the aban- 
doned rifle. 

“Give me that!” shouted Boyle. “That’s 
mine.” 

He suddenly recognized the man who had taken 
the gun as Lieutenant George Carter. 

“Beg pardon, sir,” he exclaimed quickly. “I 
thought it was one of the men. ’ ’ 

“Give me your gun!” ordered Carter. 

“But the bayonet’s gone, sir,” Boyle protested. 

“I don’t care. I’ll swap with you. Be quick!” 

Under the circumstances there was nothing for 
Corporal Thomas Boyle to do but to hand over 
his rifle, though he could not understand why the 
lieutenant should prefer a gun which had no bayo- 


30 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


net. He exchanged rifles, however, and then 
turned to look for Harold. 

The men were fighting in little groups. On all 
sides were Germans and Americans engaged in 
mortal combat. It has often been said that Ger- 
mans do not like the look of cold steel, and whether 
this be true or not, it was certain that the struggle 
was going against them. The Yankees fought 
like terriers, all shouting, slashing, and clubbing, 
and the bodies of many Germans lay strewn about, 
bodies which had a short time before been men. 
Nor had the Americans escaped unscathed. They 
saw that the fight was going in their favor, how- 
ever, and they pressed forward with new vigor. 
They knew that the right was on their side and 
that feeling is a great help to any fighter. 

In some places the Germans seemed to be giving 
way. Between the scene of the struggle and the 
American trenches the Germans had laid a bar- 
rage fire (a wall of exploding shells) to prevent 
help from coming up; similarly tiie American gun- 
ners laid up a barrage fire in front of the Ger- 
man trenches. The result was that the opposing 
hordes were out in No Man’s Land, cut off on 
both sides. It looked like a fight to the finish. 


CHAPTER III 


A PRISONER 

% 

H AROLD placed another clip in his re- 
volver, and fired point-blank at a big Ger- 
man who was about to run his bayonet 
through the body of one of the wounded Ameri- 
cans. Down went the German, sprawling head- 
long in the mud. Boyle, equipped with the Ger- 
man rifle he had received from Lieutenant George 
Carter, darted into the midst of a group of fight- 
ers and began stabbing right and left. The strug- 
gle grew more and more desperate. The Ameri- 
cans fought like men possessed and presently the 
Germans began to waver. 

Suddenly a man sprang forward, brandishing a 
rifle around his head. He held it by the end of 
the barrel, and swung it like a club. It was George 
Carter. 

4 ‘Follow me,” he shouted. 

“To Berlin if you ask us,” Harold heard a big 
private exclaim, as he hastened after the young 
31 


32 BOB COOK’S BROTHER, IN TRENCHES 


lieutenant. With a hoarse cheer the men charged. 

In the forefront was George Carter. He swung 
Boyle’s old rifle like a flail, and catching up with 
a squad of fleeing Germans he began to lay about 
him. On account of his great strength the rifle 
seemed light in his grasp, and he whirled it about 
as easily as a baseball player would his bat. Using 
the clubbed end, he brought it down squarely upon 
the head of one of his enemies; there was a dull 
thud and the German collapsed like a punctured 
balloon. The other Americans, encouraged by this 
success, went at their foes like demons. 

But the Germans had had enough. 

“Kamerad! Kamerad!” they cried eagerly, 
throwing away their weapons and holding up their 
hands. At least fifteen of them surrendered on 
the spot, and were quickly taken in charge by the 
American infantrymen. 

“Get the rest of them!” shouted Harold, but 
the Germans had gone. Every one of them who 
was able to run had made for his own lines at top 
speed. The Americans rounded up several of 
them, cutting off their escape wherever possible, 
and sending bullets whistling after them when no 
chance of capturing them remained. 

The barrage fire cut down many of the fleeing 


A PRISONER 


33 


Germans, but they feared the cold steel of the 
American bayonets more than they did shell fire, 
and they continued their mad flight, until it be- 
came useless to pursue them farther. The Ameri- 
cans turned back and began to round up their 
prisoners. Nineteen in all had been captured, 
and they were soon on their way to the American 
trenches. 

“I said we’d fix ’em,” exclaimed Boyle to one 
of his friends, Corporal Howard Beam. 

Thomas Boyle was a freckle-faced, sandy-haired 
boy of eighteen, who had volunteered at the out- 
break of the war. He loved fighting and he hated 
all Germans, an ideal combination in these times. 
He was a strong, thickset youth, with an endless 
supply of cheerfulness and quick wit. He seemed 
always to be good-natured except when the word 
Germans was mentioned; then he swung to the 
other extreme and almost foamed at the mouth 
with rage. He adored Harold, and seemed to 
consider himself the young lieutenant’s special 
guardian and protector, and if he thought it would 
be of any advantage to the youthful officer he 
would gladly have sacrificed his life for him. 

Howard Beam had grown up on a farm. His 
movements were slow, and his mind did not work 


34 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


very quickly. He was a “plugger,” however, and 
could always be depended upon for any task, great 
or small. He was tall, had dark hair and brown 
eyes, and enormous feet and hands. Corporal 
Boyle liked practical jokes and delighted in witti- 
cisms at other people’s expense, and the particu- 
lar mark for his activities was Howard Beam. 
He teased him sometimes until the big corporal 
was almost ready to commit murder, but despite 
all this the two were fast friends. Howard seemed 
to forgive the artful Thomas entirely, between 
teasing periods. 

“We did fix ’em, too,” said Howard Beam in 
reply to Boyle’s remark. 

‘ ‘ I thought I saw you running away there once, ’ ’ 
said Thomas slyly. 

“What’s that?” demanded Beam, falling easily 
into the trap. “I run away?” 

“That’s what some one told me.” 

“You lie!” cried poor Howard angrily. “You’ll 
live to be a thousand years old before you ever 
see me run away from any greasy German pig.” 

“It’s queer how those things get around,” 
mused Thomas. “I hope for your sake the cap- 
tain doesn’t hear of what you did. You can trust 
me not to say anything about it.” 


A PRISONER 


35 


“But I didn’t run, I tell you,” shouted the big 
corporal, now almost beside himself with rage. 
“Who told you that anyway?” 

“I forget who it was.” 

“What did he say?” 

‘ ‘ He said you started to run but your feet were 
so big they got stuck in the mud, and you had 
to stop. Tell the truth, now, is that so ? ” 

For the first time Beam suspected that his com- 
rade was not serious. He turned and looked at 
Boyle narrowly, but in the darkness could not see 
the expression on his face. 

“You little red-headed shrimp,” he grumbled. 

“Don’t you believe me?” demanded Thomas in 
an injured voice. 

Howard Beam was still not quite sure whether 
his friend was serious or not. He believed, how- 
ever, that Boyle was fooling, and while he forgave 
him, his anger at being accused of running away 
had not yet cooled, even though he knew his ban- 
tering was not true. He spied one of the German 
prisoners in the file ahead lagging behind the 
others, and in him recognized a means of smooth- 
ing his ruffled feelings. 

“Get up there, you beggar,” he cried, and 


36 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


pricked the German gently in the seat of his 
trousers with the tip of his bayonet. 

“Yah!” cried the German suddenly, as he 
clapped his hand over the injured spot. He sprang 
forward and fell to the ground. 

“What are ye doin' there?” demanded Boyle 
angrily of Beam. 

‘ 4 1 hardly touched him, ' ' said Beam stoutly. ‘ ‘ I 
couldn’t have hurt him. He’s bluffing.” 

“If he is, we'll soon find out,” cried Thomas, 
as he and Howard leaned over the German, who 
was now lying face downward in the mud. 

“Roll over and give us a look at you,” he or- 
dered. 

The German made no move. 

“Roll over,” repeated Thomas. 

“He can't understand English probably,” sug- 
gested Beam. 

“I never thought o' that,” said Boyle sheep- 
ishly. 

“What's going on here?” demanded a voice, 
and Harold appeared on the scene. 

Boyle and Beam both saluted. 

“This here Hun,” said Boyle, “is lying on his 
face and won 't move. ' ' 

“How did he get there?” asked Harold. 


A PRISONER 


37 


“Beam here gave him a prick in the seat of 
his breeches with his bayonet,” Boyle explained. 
“He gives a yowl and falls down in the mud.” 

“You must have stuck him pretty hard, Beam,” 
said Harold sharply. “You shouldn’t do that.” 

“I hardly touched him, sir,” said Beam. “I’m 
sure he’s faking.” 

Harold produced a pocket flash and turned it 
on the prostrate body of the prisoner. 

“You can see for yourself, sir,” exclaimed 
Beam eagerly. “His breeches ain’t even tore 
where I touched him. He’s a fake, I tell ye, sir.” 

“He may be wounded somewhere,” said Harold. 
“We’d better roll him over.” 

Boyle grasped the German by his arm and tried 
to turn him over on his back. The German re- 
sisted stoutly, however, and Boyle exerted more 
strength but with no result. He straightened up 
and looked at Harold. 

“ He ’s not wounded, Lieutenant, ’ ’ he said. * ‘ At 
any rate a man who has that much strength left 
can’t be hurted very bad.” 

“You help Boyle,” Harold ordered Beam, and 
together the two soldiers tried to turn their pris- 
oner over, but in vain. He hugged the ground 
like a drowning man clinging to a straw. 


38 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“It's no use, sir,” panted Boyle at last. “I 
guess he’s there for good.” 

4 ‘We ’ll all get hold of him,” exclaimed Harold. 
“Come on now, all together.” 

The three young soldiers took hold of the prison- 
er ’s left arm and leg, and exerting all their strength 
finally succeeded in turning him over on his hack. 
Boyle immediately placed himself astride the Ger- 
man’s chest and held him down. The prisoner 
fought desperately, however, and after much ef- 
fort he got his two hands over his throat and 
held them there. 

“Anyting but dot,” he muttered. 

“Ah, you do speak English, don’t you?” panted 
Boyle. 

“Anyting but dot,” repeated the German. 

“Anything but what?” demanded Harold. 

“Do not cut mine Croat,” begged the fright- 
ened prisoner. 

“Well f’r heaven’s sake!” exclaimed Boyle in 
astonishment. “So that’s what’s botherin’ ye, is 
it? Who said we were going to cut your throat?” 

“The Amerigans, dey always do dot,” said the 
German, still keeping his hands tightly clenched 
over his palate. 

“Who said so?” asked Harold. 


A PRISONER 


39 


“Mine officers. Dey tell us dot.” He shivered 
with fear. 

“Get up,” ordered Harold. “Your officers lie. 
We’re not going to hurt you.” 

The German was not easily convinced, however, 
and it took a deal of arguing on the part of his 
captors to make him understand that they had 
no designs upon his life. He gradually realized 
that they were telling him the truth, however, and 
at length he arose from the ground and continued 
his journey towards the American trenches. 

“Did you ever hear of anything to heat that?” 
exclaimed Boyle, as they followed on behind. 

“I never did,” Harold agreed. 

“No wonder they fight hard,” said Boyle. 
“The poor idiots believe everything that’s told 
them, and if I thought I was going to get my 
throat cut if I was captured I guess I’d fight hard 
too.” 

“If you ever got captured by the Germans you’d 
stand a better chance of having your throat cut 
than this fellow has,” said Howard Beam sol- 
emnly. 

“That’s true enough,” said Harold. 

Presently they came to the American trenches 
and turned their prisoners over to the squad which 


40 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


had charge of the other captives. A squad was 
just leaving to escort them to the rear, while the 
American soldiers got together to talk over their 
recent experience. 

“They’ll think twice before they try to pull off 
another stunt like that,” exclaimed Boyle. 

“Yes,” agreed Burnett, a big Texan, “but they 
did some damage to us too.” 

“How many men did we lose!” 

“Well,” said Burnett, “DeHart, Pierson and 
Nolan were killed, Love joy, Hall, Davison, An- 
derson, and Dane are wounded and there are 
several fellows missing.” 

“Too bad,” said Boyle soberly. “I suppose 
it ’s all part of the game though, and at any rate, 
we’re better off than the Huns who lost nineteen 
men in prisoners alone.” 

“I wish it was nineteen hundred,” growled 
Howard Beam. 

“You’re never satisfied,” exclaimed Thomas. 
“If some one offered you Europe, I suppose you’d 
be mad because you couldn’t have the earth.” 

The men were seated in a dugout, cleaning their 
rifles, and recovering from the effects of the fray. 
They were a tired lot, but not too tired to go 
through the same thing again, if it should be neces- 


A PRISONER 


41 


sary. Their confidence also was greatly increased, 
and every man felt that when it came to a test he 
was the superior of any German alive. 

“Some day,” said Beam gravely, “I’m going 
to take you by the back of the neck, and throw 
you clean across No Man’s Land into the German 
trenches. That’s where you belong, and it’s too 
bad some one of them didn’t take you back a few 
minutes ago.” 

“You can’t do it,” jeered Thomas. 

“Why can’t If” 

“Because you’re not man enough, that’s why.” 

“I’ll prove it to you,” exclaimed Beam, pre- 
tending to be very fierce. 

“You can’t throw me clean across anyway.” 

“I’ll show you I can if you’re not careful.” 

“Oh, no,” laughed Boyle. “You can’t throw 
me clean across, because I’m not clean. No one 
who lives in these trenches very long is going to 
be anything but dirty.” 

“You’re a smart fellow,” said Beam sarcas- 
tically. “I wish you were a German, and then 
I could shoot you without being hanged for mur- 
der.” 

“Well if the Germans were all like me, and the 
Americans were all like you, this war would soon 


42 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


be over, and Germany would own the world,” 
laughed Thomas derisively. 

Beam made a grab for his tormentor, but Boyle 
dodged and slipped away out of reach. He was 
no match for Beam in strength and really feared 
the powerful grip of the big corporal. The sol- 
diers seated about the dugout enjoyed these verbal 
bouts between the two friends and always urged 
them on. 

‘ 4 Catch him, Beam,” cried Burnett gleefully. 
“ Let's see what you can do to him.” 

Thomas slid in behind a row of soldiers and 
from his comparatively safe position defied Beam 
to catch him. 4 ‘Your feet are too big, ' ' he taunted. 
“You're built like a tank.” 

“Don't let him say that to you,” exclaimed Bur- 
nett. “I wouldn’t let any one say that to me.” 

Howard Beam lumbered about the room, clum- 
sily trying to seize his smaller and more agile op- 
ponent. Boxes were overturned in the chase and 
once the stove was nearly upset. Finally Howard 
cornered Boyle, however, and advanced upon him 
warily with both big hands outstretched. 

‘ ‘ Now, brick-top, ' ' he growled. “I've got you. ' ' 

What Boyle's fate might have been in the hands 
of the good-natured giant is unknown, but at that 


A PRISONER 


43 


moment Lieutenant Harold Cook appeared in the 
dugout. Immediately the “combat” ended. 

“I want volunteers,” announced Harold. 
“We’re going out to look for some of our poor 
fellows who are missing. Who wants to go?” 


CHAPTER IV 


ON PATKOL 

S TRAIGHTWAY a clamor arose in the dug- 
out. Every man present wanted to be in- 
cluded in the scouting party, and they voiced 
their desires loudly. 

“I want only ten men,” smiled Harold. 

4 ‘Take me! Take me!” shouted every one at 
once, surging forward eagerly. 

“I’ve got to go,” exclaimed Burnett. “Bob 
Walsh, one of my best friends is missing.” 

“All right, Burnett,” said Harold. “Fll take 
you. ’ ’ 

The insistence of the remainder of the men be- 
came greater. All tried to talk at the same time, 
every one shouting some particular reason why 
he should be selected. 

“That 11 do,” said Harold finally, and silence 
reigned. 

“You come, Boyle,” he said, “and get eight 
others. Be ready in five minutes.” 

44 


ON PATROL 


45 


Harold left the dugout, and Boyle took charge 
of matters. He mounted a box and looked dis- 
dainfully at the eager faces about him. 

“You’re a pretty bum crowd,” he sighed at 
length, pretending to be greatly discouraged by 
his inspection. 

“I’m going, anyway!” exclaimed Beam. 

“Is that so?” demanded Thomas in a high voice. 
“Your feet are too big to get out of the trenches.” 

“I’m going anyway,” Beam repeated solemnly. 

“Of course ye are,” said Boyle. “Because I 
order ye to.” 

Howard grinned delightedly, and stood aside 
while Thomas selected seven others. He chose 
them rapidly, picking men from various sections 
of the group. The little band was soon made up, 
and carefully began to prepare for their expedi- 
tion. Grim determination had taken the place of 
noise, and in silence they filed out of the dugout 
when Harold summoned them a few moments 
later. 

The artillery was almost quiet now ; only an oc- 
casional shell was fired by the opposing guns, and 
compared with the tumult which had taken place 
earlier in the night this section of the front seemed 
almost still. Silence did not mean that the enemy 


46 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


would not be alert, however, and in all probability 
he would be on the watch for some such party as 
this. 

The little band of Americans stealthily clam- 
bered out of the trenches, and with Harold in the 
lead made their way through the barbed-wire en- 
tanglements. Already soldiers were at work re- 
pairing the damage done to the wire by the Ger- 
man shells; when morning dawned the trenches 
and the wire would be as good as ever, and ap- 
pearances would never show that a fight had taken 
place the preceding night. 

Harold spread out his party, and side by side, 
with every man some thirty feet distant from his 
nearest neighbor, they advanced. Their prog- 
ress was slow, for the mud presented many diffi- 
culties, shell-holes had to be avoided, and the 
necessity for absolute silence was imperative. 
Keeping a sharp lookout in all directions they 
pushed forward; the German trenches in this 
section were nearly a half-mile distant, but enemy 
patrols were always active at night, and there was 
a good chance that the Americans might encoun- 
ter a squad of Germans out on a similar mission 
themselves. Harold’s men were not likely to be 
taken by surprise, however. 


ON PATROL 


47 


In the center of No Man’s Land was a little 
village. At least it had been a village once, or 
rather a group of houses, but now it was a heap 
of ruins, only a few stone walks remaining. Ever 
since the opposing forces had taken up their pres- 
ent positions, the little hamlet had been a target 
for the guns of both sides and they had pounded 
it incessantly; only piles of loose stones and mor- 
tar remained of what once had been solid houses. 
It was towards this hamlet that Harold led his 
little party, and here it was that earlier in the 
night the struggle already recounted had taken 
place. 

Nothing occurred to hinder their progress and 
presently they reached their destination. Harold 
collected his patrol about him, and gave instruc- 
tions that the premises be searched for signs of 
the missing American soldiers. The party at 
once scattered while Harold stood watch. Faint 
streaks of light were stretching their long fingers 
across the eastern sky, and it would not be safe 
for the patrol to stay away from their trenches 
much longer. If the Germans saw them in the 
ruined hamlet they could cut off their retreat, 
and it would then be necessary for the Americans 
to pass the day in the ruins, and take their chances 


48 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


of getting back the following night, if indeed any 
of them remained alive. 

Harold was considering these matters when two 
of his men came up, bearing a stretcher. 

“ Here’s what’s left of Bob Walsh,” said one 
of the men, who proved to be Burnett, the big 
Texan. 

“Is he dead?” asked Harold soberly. 

“As a door nail,” replied Burnett. “Wait till 
I get another crack at those Huns.” 

The big fellow was all broken up over the death 
of his friend; tears streamed down his face, but 
he had an expression about his eyes and mouth, 
however, which boded ill for his enemies. When 
a strong man weeps he is usually dangerous. 

“Too bad,” said Harold. “We’ll give him a 
decent funeral anyway.” 

“We will that,” Burnett agreed heartily. “Can 
I get some flowers around here ? ’ ’ 

“I think you can,” Harold assured him. 

Meanwhile the other men were beginning to re- 
port. They had found four of their comrades; 
two of them dead, and the others badly wounded. 
One of them had his leg crushed below the knee 
and the most casual glance was sufficient to con- 
vince the observer that the lower part of the limb 


ON PATROL 


49 


would have to be amputated. The wounded man, 
named Peters, knew this too, but after lying on the 
ground for two hours among the ruins, unable to 
move, he was perfectly happy now that his own 
men had rescued him. His one fear had been that 
he would fall into the hands of the enemy. 

Two of the missing men could not be found and 
it was deemed likely that they had been captured. 
At any rate it was time to return. 

“ Every one here?” asked Harold. 

“All except Corporal Boyle, sir,” said Howard 
Beam. 

“Any one seen Corporal Boyle?” Harold in- 
quired. 

No one knew anything about him. 

“You stay with me, Beam,” said Harold. 
“Every one else go on back as quickly as you 
can go.” 

The seven soldiers started for their trenches, 
carrying their dead and wounded with them. 
Harold and Howard Beam began a tour of the 
ruined hamlet to look for Boyle. 

“I don’t see what could have happened to him,” 
said Beam anxiously. “There’s been no firing.” 

“He may have fallen down,” Harold suggested. 
‘ 1 The walking is treacherous around here. ’ ’ 


50 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“Well I certainly hope he’s all right/’ said 
Beam. “I don’t know what I’d do without the 
little red-headed nuisance, mad as he makes me 
sometimes.” 

“We’d all miss him badly,” agreed Harold. 

“His teasing me is just as much a part of my 
day as breakfast,” Beam confessed. “I dread it 
sometimes, but I’d miss it terribly.” 

“Oh, he’s probably all ” 

A sudden noise cut Harold’s sentence short. He 
seized Beam by his sleeve and pulled him back 
under the lee of a ruined wall. Crouched low at 
its base the two young soldiers waited in silence. 

The noise which had alarmed and startled them 
so, was as if a plank had fallen down on the pile 
of loose bricks and mortar all about, and how 
could it have fallen unless some one had dislodged 
it? The sound had come from a spot not over 
fifty feet distant apparently, but it was around 
the corner of the wall and both Harold and his 
companion preferred to await developments be- 
fore investigating. But they had not long to wait. 

A muffled exclamation of anger came to their 
ears, and then the sound of a voice which they 
both knew well. 

“The son-of-a-gun,” it said. 


ON PATROL 


51 


“That’s Tom,” whispered Beam delightedly. 
“What do you suppose he’s up to?” 

“We’ll soon see,” exclaimed Harold, as he 
started in the direction of the voice. 

As he and his companion rounded the corner 
of the wall they spied a dark shape picking itself 
up from the ground. It muttered and grumbled 
and presently picked up a piece of stone and be- 
gan to scrape its arms with it. Harold and Beam 
were greatly mystified. 

“Boyle!” called Harold softly. 

“Yes, sir,” said the shape quickly, for it was 
none other than the missing corporal. 

“What are you doing?” 

“I was doing a painting job, sir, but I fell.” 

“What do you mean? Do you know that we’ve 
been looking all over for you?” 

“No, sir, ’ ’ said Boyle. ‘ ‘ I didn ’t know that. ’ ’ 

“What have you been doing here?” 

Boyle still scraped his arms vigorously, though 
in the dim light it was not possible to see the rea- 
son for this strange proceeding. There was a 
strong odor of pitch in the air. 

“This building here must have been a restau- 
rant once, sir,” said Boyle, starting to explain. 


52 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“As I was scouting around I stumbled on it, and 
thought I’d change its name.” 

Harold was curious now, and in spite of the 
fact that it would soon be light, he wished to know 
what it was Boyle had meant. He and Beam 
drew near. 

“ There it is, you see,” said Thomas, pointing 
to a ruined doorway. 

Over the top of the door had been scrawled in 
big black letters “HINDENBURG RATHSKEL- 
LER.” 

“I found a barrel of pitch here,” continued 
Boyle, * 4 and as you can see I drew a line through 
that name and put a good American one in its 
place. ’ ’ 

Harold peered closely and saw written under 
the former name the words, ‘ 4 CHILDS RES- 
TAURANT.” 

“You put that on with pitch!” he exclaimed, 
smiling in spite of himself- 

“Yes, sir,” said Boyle, “and just as I finished 
I slipped and nearly fell in the pitch barrel. Both 
of me arms is covered with it.” 

“Serves you right,” Beam muttered. 

“I couldn’t let the Huns name this place, and 


ON PATROL 


53 


get away with it, could I?” Boyle appealed to 
Harold. 

4 ‘No, I suppose not,” laughed Harold. 

“I wish I could get this pitch off me arms.” 

“Well I guess you’ll have to wait until we 
get back,” said Harold. “It’ll soon he light 
though and unless we get started at once we may 
not get there at all.” 

Without further delay they set out on their re- 
turn journey. The sun would soon he up, but the 
early morning mists covered the ground, furnish- 
ing a cloak to hide the movements of the three 
young Americans. The mists, however, made 
their walking difficult for while they hid the three 
soldiers, the dangerous shell-holes and craters also 
were well covered from sight. 

Boyle still chuckled over his painting work, and 
in spite of the pitch with which his arms were 
smeared he was well satisfied with what he had 
done. 

“What do you suppose the old Huns will say 
when they see that?” he exclaimed. 

“They’ll he mad, I guess,” suggested Beam. 

‘ ‘ I hope so, ’ ’ said Thomas gleefully. ‘ 6 It means 
though that I’ll have to go out there again to- 


54 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


morrow night and see if any one has been mon- 
keying with my painting . 9 9 

“You might meet old Hindenhurg himself out 
there,” said Beam. 

“I wish I could,” exclaimed Thomas eagerly. 
“He can’t scare me with his bulldog face and 
blacking-brush hair. I’d like to have about three 
minutes alone with the old bird.” 

“You’re ambitious, Boyle,” laughed Harold. 
“I don’t suppose you’d mind meeting the Kaiser 
either.” 

“The old ” began Thomas, but before he 

could finish his statement, his foot slipped in the 
treacherous mud, he lost his balance, and a mo- 
ment later disappeared from the astonished gaze 
of his two companions. 


CHAPTER V 


AN ODD OCCURRENCE 

D ON’T move, Beam,” warned Harold. 
“You may follow Boyle if you do.” 

“Where did he go?” demanded How- 
ard in astonishment. 

“Into a shell-crater,” said Harold. “It’s just 
ahead there, all covered over with fog.” 

The sound of Boyle’s voice now came to their 
ears and his remarks about mists and shell-holes 
were, to say the least, uncomplimentary. 

“Are you hurt?” inquired Beam. 

“No,” came the reply in a disgusted tone. “I’m 
awful mad though. ’ ’ 

“Why didn’t you look where you were going?” 
“How can a fellow ‘look’ when he can’t ‘see’?” 
demanded Boyle angrily. 

“Can you get out?” asked Harold. 

“I think so, sir,” said Boyle. “It’s awful 
muddy and slippery on the sides though, and me 
eyes is full of mud.” 


55 


56 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“How deep is the hole? We can’t see a thing 
from here.” 

“Not deep, I think. Here I come out. ” 

In the fog, almost at Harold’s and Beam’s feet, 
were presently heard the sounds of puffing and 
grunting. Boyle was trying to climb out of the 
shell crater, but it was hard work. Suddenly a 
shape appeared dimly through the mists as Boyle 
struggled and toiled to get out of the hole. His 
footing was most uncertain, however, and it was 
necessary for him, in order to make any progress 
at all, to crawl on his hands and knees. 

“Give me your hand,” cried Beam. “I’ll pull 
you out.” 

He leaned as far forward as he dared, and ex- 
tended his right hand to his friend. Boyle raised 
himself up quickly, and made a grab at Beam’s 
hand. He caught hold of it, but having let go the 
grip which he had with his hands, his footing be- 
came more precarious than ever ; his feet flew out 
from under him, and he fell. He did not let go 
of Beam’s hand, however, and the consequence 
was that as he slipped backwards, Beam was 
jerked violently forward. Howard tried desper- 
ately to save himself, but his efforts were of no 
avail. He fell forward on his face, and a moment 


AN ODD OCCURRENCE 


57 


later the two unfortunate young soldiers plunged 
headlong together to the bottom of the shell crater. 

Harold, left standing above, would have been 
unable to keep from laughing at this mishap, had 
it not been for the grave danger of the situation. 
At any moment the mists might lift, and they 
would he left stranded in No Man’s Land, and 
would then very probably be obliged to pass the 
day in the muddy shell-hole. 

“ What’s the matter with you two?” he de- 
manded angrily. 

“He pulled me in,” said Beam, his voice com- 
ing out of the fog. 

“Me foot slipped,” countered Boyle. 

“I believe you did it on purpose,” said Beam 
wrathfully. 

“I did not,” shouted Boyle. “Do you think 
I ’m crazy to stay in here ? ’ ’ 

“Stop your arguing,” ordered Harold. “How 
are you going to get out ? ’ ’ 

“We’ll have to try to climb, I guess,” said Beam 
dolefully. 

“Wait a minute,” said Harold. “Stay where 
you are and I’ll get you out.” 

He remembered having stumbled over the dead 
branch of a tree a moment before, and he turned 


58 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


to retrace his steps in search of it now. Presently 
he found it, and picking it up retraced his steps 
towards the shell-hole which was occupied by the 
two hapless corporals. It was difficult to find his 
way about in the fog, however, and had it not been 
for the sound of the voices of the two men wran- 
gling in the crater he might not have found them 
so easily. 

‘ ‘Don’t talk so much down there,” he ordered. 
i ‘Do you want the Germans to hear you?” 

Immediate silence ensued. 

‘ ‘ Here ’s a dead branch I found, ’ ’ he continued. 
‘ ‘ I’ll hold on to this end and one of you take the 
other. ’ ’ 

He extended the branch down into the shell- 
hole, and with its aid presently hauled Beam out. 
A moment later Thomas Boyle also stood beside 
them. 

“Now,” said Harold, “we can go on, and be 
careful where you step. ’ ’ 

Carefully they continued their journey and in 
a few moments returned to the American trench. 
As they entered the fortified ditch the fog lifted 
and the sun shone brightly. 

“Just in time,” exclaimed Boyle, and then 


AN ODD OCCURRENCE 


59 


glancing at his friend Howard he burst out laugh- 
ing. 

“ You’re the funniest looking thing I ever saw,” 
he cried delightedly. “ Where ’d you get all the 
mud?” 

1 ‘I’d like to bet I haven’t got half as much on 
me as you have,” retorted Beam. 

* 6 Well we’d better borrow a couple of hoes and 
shovels and get some of it off,” laughed Thomas. 
“This pitch on me hands and arms is no fun 
either. ’ ’ 

They were about to retire for this purpose when 
a sudden exclamation from one of the other sol- 
diers in the trench arrested them. Thomas and 
Howard both stopped ; Harold had gone to report 
to Captain Norris. 

“What’s going on out there?” demanded the 
soldier. 

“What are you talking about?” retorted Boyle, 
turning around. 

“Here comes the Kaiser,” continued the soldier 
gleefully. 

“The man’s crazy,” said Boyle sorrowfully to 
Beam. 

“See for yourself,” said the soldier, stepping 
aside from his peephole in the parapet. 


60 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


Boyle took his place and gazed out across No 
Man’s Land. A German soldier was walking to- 
wards them, alone, and apparently unarmed. He 
carried no flag of truce and seemed to be in no 
hurry whatsoever. All along the American trench 
the soldiers were looking out at him in amaze- 
ment. What could be his purpose? 

“The man’s a deserter,” was one soldier’s opin- 
ion. 

“His own men would shoot him if he were,” 
said Lieutenant George Carter, who was standing 
nearby. 

“Shall we take a shot at him?” asked another. 

“Wait,” suggested George. 

Nearer and nearer came the German, picking 
his way carefully over the muddy ground, and 
gingerly skirting the numerous shell-holes. He 
was still some five hundred yards distant, about 
half-way across No Man’s Land. The Americans 
watched him curiously, unable to make out his 
purpose. Aside from the one man who had spoken 
no one seemed to have any desire to fire at him, 
however. They were more interested in seeing 
what he was going to do. 

“It’s a queer thing, Howard,” said Boyle. 


AN ODD OCCURRENCE 


61 


“It is,” Beam agreed. “The fellow’s got his 
nerve though.” 

“Either that or he’s simple minded.” 

“Perhaps he’s coming to ask us to dinner,” 
suggested one wit. 

“ Or he wants to play pinochle, ’ ’ said another. 

A laugh went up at this, and still the German 
advanced. He was now not over four hundred 
yards away but he seemed to be walking more 
slowly. 

“I think I’ll go meet him,” exclaimed Boyle 
suddenly, and before any one could restrain him 
he sprang upon the parapet and stood at full 
height. 

Whether it was Boyle’s appearance or not, 
something evidently startled the German, for he 
suddenly turned and started to run at full speed 
in the direction from which he had come. The 
spell was broken and a volley of shots rang out 
from the American trench. Still the German kept 
on, and though bullets struck all about him he was 
untouched, and at length he reached his own 
trench and disappeared. 

“Well what do you think of that!” demanded 
Boyle, jumping down off the parapet just in time 
to escape a bullet which whistled overhead. 


62 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


‘ ‘ Something scared him off, ’ 9 remarked George 
Carter. 

“Didn’t he run, though?” exclaimed Boyle 
gleefully. “I didn’t think a German could move 
so fast.” 

“Why shouldn’t he run?” said Beam, gingerly 
scraping the sticky mud off his uniform. 

“Why should he?” challenged Boyle. 

“He was scared.” 

“Scared of what? No one had fired at him. 
Why didn’t he keep on coming?” 

“Because he saw you.” 

“But I was unarmed.” 

“I know that,” said Beam dryly. “Still he 
probably thought you were one of the gorillas es- 
caped from the zoo and he didn’t want to take any 
chances. ’ ’ 

“Me eye,” muttered Boyle, crestfallen at hav- 
ing fallen into this trap. He had so often made 
Beam the butt of his own jokes that he was all 
the more upset at having been caught by the man 
who was usually Tiis victim. 

“Ya, Beam!” shouted Burnett delightedly. 
1 1 That ’s the time you got him. I shouldn ’t be sur- 
prised if you were right, too.” 

A burst of laughter had greeted Howard’s re- 


AN ODD OCCURRENCE 


63 


mark. Almost every man in the company had at 
one time or another been the victim of Boyle’s 
“wit,” and many of them had old scores which 
they had been nnable to repay. As a result, 
Beam’s victory was enthusiastically welcomed. 

For a moment Boyle was completely floored. He 
merely stood and looked at Beam, grinning sheep- 
ishly. He was a good sportsman, however, and 
held no grudge. 

“I’ll get you yet,” he exclaimed cheerfully, and 
retired to his dugout. 

“He will too, Howard,” warned Burnett. 
“You’d better keep your eyes open.” 

“I try to keep them open,” said Beam. “But 
his tongue is quicker than my eye.” 

“It’s quicker than most people’s eyes,” laughed 
Burnett. “He’s a great fellow.” 

“We couldn’t do without him,” said Beam so- 
berly. 

That afternoon a little procession wended its 
way out of the American trenches to a green hill- 
side two miles away. Certain members of the 
party bore stretchers upon which lay figures cov- 
ered with shrouds. They were on their way to 
the cemetery. 

While the chaplain read the burial service ’ the 


64 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


men stood around in a circle, their heads bared 
and their faces very solemn. Presently the rough 
wooden coffins were lowered into the freshly made 
graves, the earth was filled in, the bugler blew 
taps, a volley was fired over the low mounds, and 
the names of some more brave American boys 
were added to that illustrious list of others who 
had died that their country might live. 

Wooden crosses were erected over the graves, 
the name and rank and regiment of each man was 
inscribed upon the crosses, and then the proces- 
sion filed back to the trenches. The soil of France 
is sown thick with these little crosses; in places 
they stretch in seemingly endless lines, the rows 
having somewhat the appearance of the marching 
of the soldiers whose graves they indicate. The 
bodies of French, English, Scotch, Irish, Russian, 
Belgian, Italian, Australians, New Zealanders, 
Canadian, East Indian, black fighters from Africa, 
Portuguese, and American soldiers lie side by 
side, an eloquent testimony to the conviction of 
these splendid men that liberty and justice, not 
brutality and might, should rule this world. 


CHAPTER VI 


INTO THE MIST 

S EVERAL days later Captain Norris, with his 
two lieutenants, Cook and Carter, were once 
more seated in their dugout. A consultation 
was in progress, and the faces of the three young 
officers were serious and solemn. 

“We must get the information,” said Captain 
Norris, “and I believe the best way to do is to 
send about three men. What do you think?” 

“That seems correct to me,” said George Car- 
ter. “Will you detail three men or ask for vol- 
unteers ? ’ 9 

“That’s another point I wanted to talk to you 
two about,” said the captain. “I expect we can 
find plenty of volunteers without difficulty.” 

“No question of that,” laughed George. 
‘ ‘ Every man in the company will want to go, and 
the only trouble is that those not selected will 
probably feel sore.” 


65 


66 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“I have a way out of that,” said Harold. 

“All right,” exclaimed the captain. “Let’s 
have it.” 

“I will volunteer to go, and will select two men 
to go with me.” 

“But I want to go myself,” protested George. 

“And I spoke first,” said Harold. 

6 i Whom would you take with you ? ’ ’ asked Cap- 
tain Norris of Harold. 

‘ ‘ Two of my corporals, Boyle and Beam. There 
are no better men in the American army.” 

“I know that,” exclaimed the captain readily. 
“You may lose them some day though.” 

4 ‘ How is that ? ’ ’ demanded Harold quickly. 

“They may be recommended for commissions 
and sent away to the officers’ school.” 

“They deserve it,” Harold agreed readily. 
* ‘ But I doubt if they would go. Both of them are 
satisfied where they are, and they have no desire 
for honors. Also I don’t believe they would care 
to leave their old company and their friends.” 

“Perhaps not,” said Captain Norris. “But to 
get back to the business in hand. You under- 
stand what information we want, I suppose?” 

“You want us to get up as close as we can to 
the German trenches and find out if possible how 


INTO THE MIST 


67 


thickly they are manned. It will be a regular 
scouting expedition. ’ ’ 

“But a very dangerous one. Do you think you 
can manage it ? ’ ’ 

“Can’t I go?” exclaimed George. 

“I think I can,” said Harold, ignoring his 
friend’s remark. 

“All right then,” said Captain Norris, also ig- 
noring George. “I shall count on you.” 

Harold’s face showed no particular signs of 
elation or joy at this trust reposed in him. He 
knew perfectly well how perilous an expedition 
lay ahead of him, and it was too serious a matter 
to be trifled with. At the same time it was flat- 
tering to know that his captain had sufficient con- 
fidence in him for this task. 

George, however, was plainly disappointed, al- 
though like a good soldier he tried his utmost to 
conceal his feelings. The undertaking for which 
Harold had been chosen would have suited him 
exactly, for danger and excitement were two 
things in life that he loved. 

“At what time shall we start, sir?” inquired 
Harold rising to his feet. 

“At dawn to-morrow.” 

“May I find my two men now?” 


68 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“By all means,” said Captain Norris. “After 
you have talked with them though I would sug- 
gest that you get some sleep, for you’ll need all 
your strength and wits.” 

“Yes, sir,” said Harold, and after saluting 
briskly he left the dugout. 

He found Boyle and Beam engaged in a heated 
argument concerning the respective merits of the 
White Sox and the Giants. As far as they were 
apparently concerned there might not have been 
a war going on. Boyle was seated on the firing 
step of the trench, his rifle between his knees, while 
he pointed an accusing finger at Howard Beam. 

“Why you don’t know what you’re talking 
about,” he exclaimed warmly. “Eddie Collins 
with one arm gone could lick the whole New York 
team. ’ ’ 

“Is that so?” demanded Beam. “Heinie 
Zim ” 

He saw Harold approaching at that moment, 
and whatever claim he was going to make for the 
Giants’ famous infielder was cut short by the ap- 
pearance of the young lieutenant. 

“Bo you two want to take a trip with me to- 
morrow morning?” Harold inquired. 


INTO THE MIST 


69 


“ We’ll go to Hades with yon if you ask us,” 
replied Boyle eagerly. 

“We don’t want to go there,” said Harold with 
a smile. “Captain Norris has been ordered to get 
what information he can about the strength of 
the Germans in the trenches opposite and I am to 
see what I can find out for him. I thought perhaps 
you’d like to go along.” 

“That suits us fine,” exclaimed Beam. 

“It sure does,” Thomas agreed heartily. 

“Well then,” said Harold, “be ready to start 
at dawn to-morrow. And you’d better get all the 
sleep you can before then.” 

“That suits us too,” grinned Beam. 

“No rifles in the morning, remember,” said 
Harold. “Only grenades and automatics.” 

He left the two corporals to continue their base- 
ball discussion if they so desired, and repaired to 
his dugout where he curled up in his rough wooden 
bunk and soon was fast asleep. Thomas and 
Howard had forgotten baseball for the time being, 
however, and they too were soon sleeping soundly 
in their underground shelter. 

The following morning the three scouts were 
astir bright and early. They partook of a hot 
breakfast at the company canteen and were soon 


70 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


ready to start on their perilous mission. Thick 
mists hung low over the ground everywhere and 
it was impossible to see far in any direction. The 
sun was not yet up and the air was damp and 
clung to the body like a cloak. 

“Is this bloomin’ fog never goin’ away?” Boyle 
said peevishly. “I’m getting tired of walking 
around in cloud hanks. ’ ’ 

“Stop growling,” said Beam. “We can’t help 
the weather and at any rate it is a good thing for 
us. Besides if it wasn’t for the fog your old red 
head would shine like a searchlight.” 

Now Thomas was very conscious of the bright 
color of his hair, and he resented remarks made 
concerning it. He had no opportunity to argue 
now, however, for Harold was waiting for them 
and there was no time to he lost. He merely mut- 
tered under his breath in reply to Howard’s re- 
mark. 

‘ ‘ All ready ? ’ ’ said Harold. ‘ ‘ Got everything ? ’ ’ 

“Yes, sir,” replied Thomas and Howard to- 
gether. 

“Come along then,” and Harold sprang light- 
ly upon the parapet and began to feel his way cau- 
tiously through the belt of barbed wire which 
stretched in front of the trenches. The two cor- 


INTO THE MIST 


71 


porals followed close behind, and presently they 
emerged from the wire entanglements into No 
Man’s Land. 

“ I wonder if any one’s been monkeying with 
my sign,” whispered Thomas. 

1 i What sign?” queried Howard. 

‘ ‘ The restaurant sign, of course. Do you sup- 
pose we could come home that way and have a 
look, Lieutenant?” 

‘ 4 We ’ll be lucky to get home at all,” said 
Harold shortly, and the little party lapsed into 
silence. 

The thick white mist closed in all about them, 
and it became increasingly difficult for the three 
scouts to pick their way. Frequent shell holes 
blocked their path and the ever-present mud was 
particularly unpleasant that morning. The three 
soldiers had the appearance of ghosts as they pro- 
ceeded slowly through the enveloping fog. Pres- 
ently they stopped to take their bearings and to 
rest for a moment. 

“Not much gun fire now,” remarked Thomas 
after a moment. 

“No,” said Harold. “It has quieted down a lot, 
but last night it was active enough.” 


72 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“It woke me up,” said Beam. 

“Where?” exclaimed Thomas. “It must have 
been active.” It seemed impossible for him to 
let a chance for a joke go by. 

1 ‘ It was either guns or your snoring, ’ ’ retorted 
Howard. 

“All right,” said Harold. “Let’s go on.” 

They continued on their way, advancing cau- 
tiously and picking their footing most carefully. 
For a considerable distance they went without a 
word being spoken, and Harold figured they must 
now be nearly half-way to their destination. The 
necessity for caution increased, for the risk of 
meeting an enemy patrol was ever present. 

Suddenly Harold, who was in the lead, halted. 
He^shrank back and raised his automatic revolver 
to the level of his shoulder. He had been carrying 
his weapon in his right hand, ready to use it at 
a moment’s notice. The two corporals likewise 
halted and prepared for immediate action. 

A shape loomed up ahead of them in the mist. 
Shadowy and vague, it seemed to the three young 
scouts to take the form of a Prussian soldier. 
They could see his helmet, and his arms move. 
What should they do? 

“Will I let him a bomb?” whispered Thomas. 


INTO THE MIST 


73 


“Ssh,” hissed Harold softly. 

Motionless they stood and watched the figure. 
Was he too looking at them? Perhaps he was 
one of a company, the other members of which 
even now were trying to slip around in back of 
the three young Americans and cut them off. 

“Keep watch behind, Beam,” whispered Har- 
old. 

He gazed intently at the figure. What was the 
man trying to do? Why did he not move? If 
he was alone it seemed folly for him to stand there 
with three enemies opposing him, for he could 
easily run away, and the chances were that he 
would be able to escape in the mist. The whole 
thing was odd and mysterious. 

All at once Boyle snickered. Harold was an- 
gered at this, and was about to reprimand his cor- 
poral sharply, when the fog lifted for a moment. 
To his great amazement, he saw that the shadowy 
form which had so alarmed them was not a man at 
all, but the shattered stump of a tree. A shell at 
some time had exploded close by and a once noble 
tree had been destroyed, leaving only a twisted 
and torn trunk, about six or seven feet high. A 
low branch had been left hanging by a single 


74 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


strand and as this branch swayed to and fro it 
had the appearance of an arm. 

“A stump!” exclaimed Harold disgustedly. 
“What’s the matter with us?” 

“We’re nervous, I guess,” said Boyle. 

“We certainly must be,” muttered Harold. 
“Come on, Beam.” 

The three young soldiers approached the stump 
whose appearance through the fog had so deceived 
them. Seen at close range it in no way resembled 
a man, but such is the nature of a fog, that many 
a man has been deceived by ^objects more innocent 
than the one which had so alarmed Harold Cook 
and his two corporals. 

“Well, we didn’t get hurt, did we?” smiled Har- 
old, as he tore the hanging branch from the stump, 
and threw it far into the mist. 

“But I was awful scared for a minute,” said 
Thomas soberly. 

“I thought the Prussian Guard was after us,” 
muttered Howard. 

“Things do look queer in a fog,” said Harold, 
“but we won’t get fooled so easily next time and 
meanwhile we’d better be moving on.” 

They stole forward stealthily, eyes and ears 
alert for the slightest sign of the enemy. As they 


INTO THE MIST 


75 


came nearer to the German trenches the shell- 
holes increased in size and number, showing that 
the American artillery had been active, and active 
recently, for most of the shell holes were newly 
made. “This is what our guns were doing last 
night,” said Harold softly. 

“Would it he a good plan to keep in the shell- 
holes ?” whispered Boyle. 

“Perhaps it would,” Harold agreed. “You 
mean jump from one to another?” 

“Yes,” said Thomas. “We can keep hidden 
better that way, it seems to me. They’re so close 
together we can scramble right out of one into the 
next. Walking around them would make us more 
of a target if we should happen to be seen, and if 
we have to we might be able to hide in one of these 
craters for quite a long while.” 

“A good scheme,” agreed Harold. “I think 
we’re getting pretty close too.” 

They entered the nearest shell-hole, clambered 
down one side and up the other, and then after a 
careful look around, swung themselves over into 
the adjoining crater. In this manner they ad- 
vanced more slowly, and as Boyle had said, more 
safely. 

The farther they went the more caution the 


76 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES . 


three young scouts exercised. They felt that they 
must now he almost up to the hostile trenches and 
naturally they had no desire to he surprised. 
Their hearts pounded with excitement though they 
felt no fear, and were actually enjoying, though 
perhaps not consciously, the element of danger at- 
tached to their exploit. As they were emerging 
from one big shell-crater, Harold suddenly held 
up his hand. 

“This must be the German first line,” he whis- 
pered. “But there’s no one here.” 

“Nobody home,” murmured Boyle. 

A long line of upturned mortar, sandbags, lum- 
ber, and all the other elements of a trench 
stretched out before them. All around the earth 
was pitted with holes caused by the accurate fire 
of the American batteries. 

“They had to evacuate,” said Harold softly. 
“Keep low there, Beam,” he warned. 

“ Where ’ve they gone?” whispered Boyle. 

“Withdrawn to their next line, the support 
trench, I suppose,” said Harold. 

“Sha’n’t we try to have a look at ’em?” 

“I guess we’d better,” Harold agreed. “We 
don’t want to go back empty-handed.” 


INTO THE MIST 


77 


They stood for a moment trying to pierce the 
thick fog with their gaze, but it was only possi- 
ble to see a few feet in any direction. Presently 
Harold climbed out of the crater which they had 
been occupying and crouched low in what re- 
mained of the German first line trench. The two 
corporals followed close at his heels. 

Not a trace of the Germans was to be seen. It 
seemed almost as if they had literally been blown 
out of their trench, while the trench itself was al- 
most completely demolished. Harold and his two 
companions inspected about fifty yards of it, or 
what remained of it, but it was easy to see that 
the former occupants had withdrawn. 

6 ‘ We ’ll go on now,” said Harold in a whisper. 

He led the way over the shell-holes which in this 
locality dotted the earth in greatly increased num- 
bers. The three scouts were more alert now than 
ever before, for they could not know at what mo- 
ment they might suddenly come upon the German 
support trench and find themselves face to face 
with the enemy. For a time all went well. At the 
end of about five minutes of this slow progress, 
however, and as they were climbing up the side of 
an especially steep crater, Beam dislodged a stone 


78 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


from its resting-place and it rattled down to the 
bottom of the shell-hole, making considerable 
noise in its descent. 

Almost instantly a shot rang ont through the 
mist, and a hoarse cry of alarm sounded scarcely 
twenty yards away. 


CHAPTER VII 


AGAINST ODDS 

T HE outlook for the three young Americans 
seemed very dark at that moment. They 
were far away from their own lines, en- 
veloped in a thick mist, with no knowledge of how 
many of the enemy might be directly opposed to 
them. The chance of being surrounded and cut 
off seemed very good indeed. 

For an instant Harold was undecided what to 
do, but it was only for an instant. 

* 1 Forward l” he shouted at the top of his lungs, 
and springing out of the shell-hole, he dashed 
ahead. Thomas and Beam were not far behind, 
Boyle only stopping for a moment to hurl one of 
his hand grenades in front of him into the fog. 
There was a loud crash as the bomb exploded, and 
then the three Americans advanced with a yell. 

Their ruse was successful. The Germans, think- 
ing they had been surprised by a large force, 
79 


80 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


broke and ran. Shadowy figures, making for 
cover, could be dimly seen through the mists, and 
the three Americans followed in hot pursuit. The 
Germans had scurried for an underground shel- 
ter and pell-mell they plunged into the entrance. 

Harold and his two corporals were upon them 
as the last German in line was about to hurry be- 
low. This German, surprised to see only three 
Americans, when he had expected a large com- 
pany, became furiously angry and turned vicious- 
ly upon his pursuers, while he called to his com- 
rades to come out and fight. Boyle shot him 
through the body. The German’s knees gave way 
beneath him, he sank to the ground, and one foot 
slipping on the lip of a nearby shell hole, he top- 
pled over backwards and disappeared from sight. 
Another German appeared at the entrance to the 
dugout. Boyle put a bullet through his brain. 

“That’ll teach yez a lesson!” he cried savage- 
ly. “Give ’em a couple of bombs, Howard!” 

Beam tossed two hand-grenades down the en- 
trance of the underground shelter. 

Meanwhile Harold had spied two Germans drag- 
ging a machine gun to the top of a crater just out- 
side the trench. There was not a moment to lose, 
if the Americans were to save themselves from 



i i 


‘Give ’em a couple of bombs, Howard!’ 


7 7 


Page 80 





































































































































* 
























































































AGAINST ODDS 


81 


being mowed down by the hail of death the ma- 
chine would soon be spouting in their direction. 

“ Follow me!” shouted Harold, and he sprang 
for the shelter of a nearby crater. 

Boyle and Beam came tumbling in after their 
young lieutenant, and an instant later Howard 
hurled a grenade at the two Germans with the 
machine gun, before they had had a chance to turn 
it on the three Americans. The bomb burst with 
a loud detonation, and one of the Germans was 
killed. The other, forgetting all about the ma- 
chine gun, turned and ran. 

“No, you don’t, Fritzie!” cried Boyle, as 
springing out of the shell hole he aimed his auto- 
matic at the fleeing German and fired. The bullet 
went wild, but Boyle was not to give up so easily, 
and started in pursuit. He was younger and 
more agile than the fleeing German, and gained on 
him rapidly. Presently he was only a few steps 
behind him, he was in a position where he could 
not miss, and he shot his enemy in the back. An- 
other German was accounted for. 

He turned to see his two companions taking 
possession of the abandoned machine gun. He 
hurried to rejoin them, and passing on his way 
the entrance to the underground shelter where the 


82 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


Germans had taken refuge, he threw two hand 
grenades down the opening. 

“This luck can’t last,” he exclaimed, as he 
joined Harold and Beam. “I can hear Germans 
all around us.” 

“We’d better run for it,” said Harold. “Let’s 
take the machine gun with us.” 

Thomas and Beam picked it up, and stagger- 
ing somewhat under its weight, they started 
through the mist in the direction of their own 
trenches. 

‘ ‘ The noise our pistols and grenades have made 
will alarm the whole German army,” said Beam. 
“They’ll he here in crowds inside of two min- 
utes.” 

“Just what I was thinking,” said Harold. 
“We’re still inside their lines, you know.” 

“This mist’ll save our lives,” panted Boyle. 
“They’ll never find us in the fog, and I guess 
we ’ve left ’em something to think about. ’ ’ 

“We’re not safe yet,” warned Harold. “I 
think we’d better leave the machine gun. We can 
make better time without it.” 

“I’d hate to leave it,” Boyle protested wist- 
fully. 


AGAINST ODDS 


83 


“I know that,” said Harold. “ Still it’s hold- 
ing ns back. Pnt it down.” 

The two corporals were starting to obey when 
Harold suddenly saw figures moving about in the 
mist ahead of them. 

“Germans ahead!” he exclaimed softly. 

“We’re cut off,” exclaimed Beam in dismay. 

1 i S ’pose we are, ’ ’ panted Thomas. “ We ’re not 
dead yet, and they haven’t got us by a good sight. ’ ’ 

“Jump in here,” ordered Harold, springing 
into a shell-hole. “Bring the machine gun.” 

The two corporals obeyed instantly. A moment 
later they were crouching beside Harold, and had 
dropped the machine gun into position. 

“Let ’em go,” cried Boyle. “You feed ’em, 
Howard. ’ ’ 

Beam fed the machine gun with the long strips 
of cartridges which they had captured and 
Thomas directed the fire. 

Phantom figures appeared through the mist in 
front, and in their direction Boyle aimed his wea- 
pon. The Germans were headed in their way and 
seemed to be in strong force. The sharp rattle of 
the machine gun was joined by shots from Har- 
old’s automatic pistol, and four Germans were 


84 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


seen to fall. The remainder ran around in great 
confusion. 

4 4 Come on!” shouted Harold, placing another 
clip of cartridges in his revolver, and springing 
out of the shell-hole. “Leave the machine gun, 
and follow me.” 

Boyle and Beam kicked the machine gun over 
into the mud and hastened after their young lieu- 
tenant. 

“Surrender!” shouted Harold, flourishing his 
revolver. 

Eleven Germans held up their hands in token 
of submission. 

4 4 Kamerad ! Kamerad ! ’ ’ they cried eagerly. 

“We better beat it quick, Lieutenant,” ex- 
claimed Boyle. 4 4 When they find out there ’s only 
three of us, there’ll be the dickens to pay.” 

4 4 Take their arms away from them,” Harold 
ordered. 4 4 We ’ll see if we can’t bluff them.” 

While Howard and Thomas busied themselves 
relieving their eleven prisoners of the weapons 
they carried, Harold pretended to carry on a con- 
versation with some one a short distance away in 
the fog. 

4 4 Hold back a little,” he shouted. 4 4 We don’t 
want you quite yet.” 


AGAINST ODDS 


85 


The two corporals worked hard at their task, 
and soon had collected numerous weapons. Re- 
volvers, hand grenades, clubs, and rifles were 
taken from the Germans and piled in a heap upon 
the ground nearby. 

4 ‘ Keep close to us,” shouted Harold into the 
fog. “ We’re going to start now.” 

The Germans, although they could not under- 
stand what Harold was saying, took it for granted 
that he was conversing with other American sol- 
diers, and so well did the ruse work that not one 
of them made any effort to get away, or even to 
resist being deprived of his weapons. 

When the work of disarming the eleven prison- 
ers was finished, Boyle turned to Harold, drew 
himself up stiffly, and saluted. 

“All present or accounted for, Lieutenant,” he 
reported. 

“Good,” exclaimed Harold. “Now to run for 
it.” 

“Hurry on now!” he ordered the Germans, 
while he waved his revolver in the direction of 
the American lines. The prisoners turned and 
started slowly across No Man’s Land. 

“Get up ahead there, Beam,” ordered Harold. 


86 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


‘ ‘ Boyle, you go along to one side, and I’ll follow 
behind. ’ ’ 

The procession started, but the prisoners moved 
slowly, and Harold began to worry lest enemy re- 
enforcements, hurrying to the scene, should arrive 
and cut them off. 

6 6 Hurry it up there!” he shouted to Boyle. 
“ We’ve got no time to lose.” 

4 4 Beat it, youse!” ordered Thomas sharply, 
starting to run. The prisoners looked at him in 
surprise, but made no effort to increase their pace. 

“They don’t understand English,” Boyle com- 
plained to Harold. 4 ‘ Maybe you could try a little 
French on them.” 

“Allez! Vite!” (Go! Quickly!) ordered Harold, 
and one of the Germans evidently comprehended, 
for he began to run, and after a guttural exclama- 
tion to his comrades, they started to follow him. 

At double time they hurried through the mist in 
the direction of the American trenches. Harold 
was congratulating himself on their good fortune, 
but he was too wise to think that as yet they were 
entirely out of danger. A great many things might 
happen among the mists of No Man’s Land, and 
he feared that if the Germans should discover 
that their captors were only three in number they 


AGAINST ODDS 


87 


might make trouble. True, they were unarmed, 
but being eleven against three, it was conceivable 
that, being desperate men, they could overpower 
their captors and get away. 

As these thoughts were passing through his 
mind he noticed that the prisoners were beginning 
to talk among themselves, and he feared they sus- 
pected the true state of affairs. 

“Look out there !” he warned his corporal. 
“These fellows are becoming suspicious.’ ’ 

He had scarcely finished speaking when a big 
German in the front ranks, drew a pistol which he 
had concealed under his tunic, and fired point 
blank at Beam, the bullet piercing the corporal’s 
back. Without a sound Beam sank to the ground. 

Immediately the procession halted, and as the 
German turned to fire at Boyle next, the remain- 
ing ten prisoners made as if to bolt. As the Ger- 
man aimed at Thomas, Harold was upon him. Two 
quick shots from his automatic accounted for him, 
and Boyle at once picked up the German’s re- 
volver and held it in his right hand, ready for 
instant use. He flourished it at the other prisoners 
and if they had had any further idea of running 
away, they quickly changed their minds. The 
whole band was cowed at once. 


88 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“Pretty close call, Lieutenant,’ ’ remarked Boyle 
grimly. “How about poor Howard?” 

He leaned over his wounded friend, and felt for 
his heart heats, while Harold stood guard. A mo- 
ment later Beam opened his eyes and looked about 
him dazedly. 

“What happened?” he inquired feebly. 

“Yez got shot,” said Boyle briefly. “How do 
ye feel?” 

“All right,” replied Beam, and tried to rise 
to his feet. It was no use, however, and he sank 
back with a groan. 

“Stay where ye are,” ordered Boyle. “Two o’ 
these guys ’ll carry ye. ’ ’ 

“Pick him up,” Thomas directed two of the 
prisoners. At first they did not understand, but 
by means of signs, Boyle soon showed them what 
he meant, and presently the gravely wounded cor- 
poral was being carried towards his own lines. 

The body of the German who had shot Beam 
was left lying where it had fallen, and with Boyle 
and Harold in charge of the squad of prisoners, 
the march was continued. Like cats watching 
mice, the young Americans guarded the Germans 
and without further incident they presently came 
within sight of their trenches. 


AGAINST ODDS 89 

“I’ll be glad to get in,” remarked Boyle sol- 
emnly. 

“Yes,” Harold agreed. “So shall I.” 

“I’ve got the drumstick of a chicken I saved 
in my dugout. I think it’s going to taste pretty 
good.” 

“I guess it will,” smiled Harold. “I'm hungry 
myself. ’ ’ 

A moment lated they herded their prisoners 
into the American first line trench, and turned the 
wounded Beam over to the stretcher bearers to 
take to the nearest point where medical aid could 
be given. 

“You needn’t come any further,” Harold said 
to Boyle. “I’ll see that these prisoners get to the 
major’s post of command all right.” 

Boyle saluted, and remembering the drumstick 
which he had carefully hidden away in his dug- 
out, hastened in quest of it. He met many of his 
friends in the company on the way, who wanted 
to know all about his recent experiences, but Cor- 
poral Boyle was hungry, and when he was in that 
condition he let nothing interfere with his inten- 
tion to satisfy his appetite for food. Moreover, 
he desired a few moments to think over the story 
he intended to tell his comrades, for let it be 


90 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


known, Thomas Boyle loved to make a good story 
out of what he had done, and if it did not entirely 
agree with the truth, that condition did not worry 
him. In fact, he intended to exaggerate all he 
could, and he wanted to eat his chicken leg all by 
himself and think out the details of the tale he 
would relate. 

Presently he came to the dugout, and entering 
he quickly went to the wooden box in the corner 
where the drumstick had been concealed. He 
smiled to himself in anticipation of the feast he 
was about to have, and he even whistled a gay 
tune as he opened the wooden box. One glance 
inside, however, and he started back in amazement, 
and his eyes bulged wide in their sockets and his 
jaw dropped. 

‘ 4 Well ” he began, and got no further. 

The drumstick was gone. 


CHAPTER VIII 


A MAN OP MYSTERY 

A S Boyle was standing, staring in wonder- 
ment at the box, and pondering over the 
mysterious disappearance of his drumstick, 
one of the members of his company, a private 
named Dobbs, entered the dugout. Boyle turned 
upon him angrily. 

“Look here, Dobbs/ ’ he exclaimed. “I had a 
chicken leg hidden in this box, and now it’s gone. 
Do ye know who took it!” 

“Why I saw Burn ” began Dobbs, and then 

he checked himself hastily. He did not mean to 
tell tales on anybody if he could help it. 

“What’s that?” demanded Boyle. “Burnett, 
did you say?” 

“I didn’t say anybody,” Dobbs exclaimed, a 
guilty look on his face. 

“Well I suspected Burnett right away,” said 
Thomas. “I’ll fix him.” 


91 


92 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


He hastened to leave the dugont, and once more 
in the trench made his way towards the spot where 
he had seen Burnett when he came in. 

Sure enough he spied the man he suspected of 
the theft sitting with two companions on the fir- 
ing-step of the trench. They were chatting to- 
gether, and the subject they were discussing was 
a gruesome one. Charlton, one of the men, was 
saying that for every man in the war a bullet had 
been molded. 

“Your bullet may be in some German soldier’s 
belt now,” he said to Burnett. 

“With my name on it, I suppose,” remarked 
Burnett dryly. 

“Not really,” said Charlton, “but it’s probably 
ticketed for you just the same.” 

“You’re a cheerful sort of a crab,” exclaimed 
Burnett. “I suppose that bullet with my name 
on it wouldn’t hit any one else, would it?” 

“No.” 

“Well, I hope it does a clean job anyway,” said 
Burnett. 

“My bullet may be a big shell for all I know,” 
spoke up Charlton. ‘ ‘ There may be several names 
on a shell, of course.” 

“But of course it won’t hit any one whose name 


A MAN OF MYSTERY 


93 


it hasn’t got,” Burnett remarked with a sarcastic 
note in his voice. 

“Of course not,” Charlton agreed, “and theu 
you must remember that some bullets have no 
names on them, and the names of some soldiers 
aren’t on bullets. We’re not all going to get killed 
you know.” 

“Certainly we’re not,” exclaimed Burnett. 
“You’re talking a lot of rot anyway. You can’t 
tell me that every bullet is meant for a certain 
man. At any rate there are plenty of things meant 
for one man which find their way inside somebody 
else.” 

“A leg of chicken for instance,” exclaimed 
Boyle, who had approached unobserved, and had 
heard the last of the conversation. 

At this remark the three men who had been talk- 
ing together glanced up in surprise, and a deep 
red flush began to spread itself over Burnett’s 
face. 

‘ 4 What are you talking about ? ” he demanded. 

“You know what I’m talking about,” said 
Thomas. “Why did you eat my drumstick?” 

“Did that belong to you?” exclaimed Burnett, 
feigning great surprise. 

“You know it did.” 


94 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


1 ‘ Why,’ ’ said Burnett, “I just happened to be 
rummaging around in the dugout when I ran 
across that wooden box. I saw the drumstick in- 
side and thought some one must have gone off and 
forgotten it. So I ate it.” 

“So kind of ye,” sneered Thomas. He fixed his 
eye upon the culprit with a look of deep disdain, 
and then turned and walked away. 

“Tell us about your party,” said Charlton. 
“What did you do out there this morning?” 

“Beam is pretty near dead, I guess,” said Boyle 
ignoring the question. ‘ 4 Too bad he had to be the 
one when there are so many fellows around here 
that we could get along without just as well as 
not.” He cast a scornful glance at Burnett and 
continued on his way, mad through and through. 
A few moments later he was sleeping in his bunk. 

Meanwhile Harold had led his ten prisoners 
before the battalion commander. Beam had been 
dispatched with all speed to the nearest dressing 
station, where his wound was looked after, and he 
was then passed on to the base hospital. 

The major began to question the prisoners 
through an interpreter when a strange thing hap- 
pened. One of the men in the German uniform 


A MAN OF MYSTERY 


95 


stepped a pace forward, saluted, and addressed 
the major in excellent English. 

“I’m an American, sir,” he said. 

Both the major and Harold were greatly sur- 
prised at this sudden development, as were the 
other officers standing nearby. 

“You're an American ?” exclaimed the major. 
“What do you mean?” 

“Just w T hat I say, sir. I’m an American, and 
I lived in Chicago for over ten years.” 

“Then what are you doing in the German 
army?” the major demanded. 

“I was born in Germany,” said the man, “but 
I went to America when I was eighteen years old 
and I became a naturalized citizen. WTien the 
war broke out I was in Germany on business and 
I couldn’t get out of the country. They wouldn’t 
recognize my American citizenship, and though 
they didn’t put me into the army at first, now that 
they’re getting hard up for men they drafted me 
into service.” 

This was a remarkable tale, and the major 
looked at the man narrowly to see if he was telling 
the truth. The German, or rather the American, 
gazed back steadily from his pale blue eyes, how- 


96 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


ever, and seemed from his demeanor to be stating 
what was true. 

“Why didn’t you say you were an American 
when we captured you?” inquired Harold, who 
was amazed at the story the man had told. 

“I didn’t think it was safe* sir,” the man re- 
plied. 

“Why not?” 

“Well, you see the Germans hate the Americans 
almost more than they do the English. If I had 
said who I was with all these fellows around me, 
I probably wouldn’t have lived very long, in spite 
of the fact that they were unarmed and had sur- 
rendered. They probably would have thought me 
a spy too, and they might have blamed me for 
leading them into a trap.” 

The explanation sounded reasonable, but Har- 
old could not help having a vague feeling that all 
was not right. 

“What do you want us to do with you?” asked 
the major. 

“I want to enlist in the American army,” said 
the man. “I want to fight the Germans. I hate 
them. I have several scores to pay off for what 
they did to me. ’ ’ 


A MAN OF MYSTERY 


97 


“Haven’t yon got relatives in the German 
army?” the major inquired. 

“I have,” the man admitted, “but that doesn’t 
make any difference. I hate them all. They are 
a bad crowd, and the fewer Germans left in the 
world, the better.” 

“That’s the kind of talk we like to hear,” ex- 
claimed the ma j or. ‘ 6 What ’s your name ? ’ ’ 

“Hoffmann, sir.” 

Harold started perceptibly at this. He remem- 
bered the trouble his younger brother Bob and his 
brother’s friend, Hugh Reith, had had with a man 
named Karl Hoffmann back in their home town 
of High Ridge. The same name had seemed to 
haunt them even after they had enlisted in the 
aviation corps and come to France. Could it be 
that this man had any connection with that other 
Hoffmann? Harold was puzzled and as he looked 
closely at the man he fancied he could see a re- 
semblance to Karl Hoffmann, who had once been 
foreman in his father’s steel company. This man 
had said that he had lived in Chicago while so- 
journing in America, but that did not mean he had 
no connection with the Hoffmann in High Ridge. 

“What’s your first name?” the major asked. 

“Hugo, sir.” 


98 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“And you want to enlist, do you? You’ve got 
a real German name. ’ ’ 

“I can’t help where I was born, sir,” said Hoff- 
mann respectfully. “I’m sorry it was in Ger- 
many, but I think you can hardly blame me for it. ’ ’ 

“I suppose not,” laughed the major. “You 
seem to be all right, but of course we shall want 
to know more about you before we can think of 
taking you into our army. Stand aside for the 
present, and I’ll talk to you again later.” 

Hoffmann obeyed respectfully, and the major 
continued with his examination of the other pris- 
oners. Much information of value was obtained 
from the men whom Harold and his two compan- 
ions had captured that morning. It seemed that 
they were from a Bavarian division, which for the 
past year and a half had been stationed on the 
Russian front. Recently they had been shifted to 
the West, and the men were not in the least pleased 
with the change. They had had a comparatively 
easy time of it while opposing the disorganized 
Russian armies, but being sent to France was a 
different matter, for the English, French and 
Americans were a superior brand of fighters. One 
of the prisoners confessed that when they had re- 
ceived news of their transfer many of the men had 


A MAN OF MYSTERY 


99 


looked upon it as meaning that all hope of coming 
through the war alive was lost to them. 

The examination of the prisoners was ended at 
last, a complete record made of what they had 
disclosed, and they were marched off to a deten- 
tion camp. That is, all of them except the one who 
claimed to be an American, who had given his 
name as Hugo Hoffmann. He was told to accom- 
pany the major to battalion headquarters, where 
he was to be questioned further. 

Harold’s duties were over for the present, and 
he made his way hack to his bunk to enjoy a well- 
earned rest. The preceding hours had been exact- 
ing ones for the young lieutenant, and now that 
the excitement and strain were over he realized 
how tired he was, and how badly he needed sleep. 


CHAPTER IX 


A NEW SOLDIER 

A LL that day and all the following night Har- 
old slept. He had had no idea how ex- 
hausted he had been, but when he awoke 
finally he was once more completely refreshed, and 
ready for whatever duties might be demanded of 
him. 

He partook of a hearty breakfast, and shortly 
afterwards was summoned to appear before the 
major. 

“ Maybe you’re going to be promoted,” whis- 
pered George Carter,- an affectionate smile crin- 
kling around the corners of his black eyes. “I 
hope so.” 

“I hope not,” said Harold fervently. “A first 
lieutenant’s job is all that I care about handling 
just at present.” 

He made his way as quickly as possible along 
the trenches back towards the battalion headquar- 
ters, and soon was ushered into the presence of 
100 


A NEW SOLDIER 


101 


the major. To his surprise he recognized Hugo 
Hoffmann, the man whom they had captured the 
day before, standing beside the major talking with 
him affably. 

Harold waited until the major looked up and 
recognized him, then he saluted smartly, his sa- 
lute was returned, and the major opened the con- 
versation. 

“Mr. Cook,” he said, “I’ve got a recruit for 
you.” 

“Yes, sir,” said Harold, striving not to show by 
the expression on his face the surprise he felt at 
this remark. 

“Hoffmann here,” continued the major, “wants 
to join our army. I am convinced of his honesty, 
I think he can be of great service to us, and ac- 
cordingly I have made the necessary arrange- 
ments. Will you fix it with 'Captain Norris to 
have the proper equipment issued to him from the 
quartermaster, and take him into your company? 
Hoffmann has a great knowledge of the German 
army, and can be of much assistance to you, as 
he is entirely familiar with the enemy trench sys- 
tem directly opposite the spot where you are lo- 
cated. ’ y 

“Yes, sir,” repeated Harold, and as the con- 


102 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


versation seemed to be at an end, be saluted, beck- 
oned Hoffmann to follow him, and departed. 

It was not for the young lieutenant to question 
any order he received from his superior officer, but 
he could not help wondering if the major had not 
made a mistake. No one knew anything about 
Hoffmann except what he had himself volun- 
teered, and to Harold it seemed as if the major 
perhaps had acted too hastily. If the man was 
honest it was true that he could render valuable 
service to the Americans, but on the other hand 
if he so desired he undoubtedly would be able to 
work much mischief. Harold glanced at his com- 
panion as they walked along. 

“ You’re taking a big chance,” he said, watching 
the man narrowly. 

“How so, sir?” inquired Hoffmann. 

“Suppose you should be captured by the Ger- 
mans.” 

“I’d be shot,” said the man simply. 

“Worse than that,” remarked Harold drily. 

“I’m willing to take that chance.” 

“Suppose you’re not telling the truth and you 
got found out. I warn you that the chances are 
against my ever being able to save you from our 

n 


men. 


A NEW SOLDIER 


103 


Hoffmann laughed easily. “I’m telling the 
truth all right,” he said. “I mean it when I say 
that I want to fight the Germans.” 

“I hope you do,” said Harold. 

A short time later he turned his charge over to 
Captain Norris, who gave him an order on the 
quartermaster for equipment, and for the time 
being Harold left the new member of his company 
with one of his corporals. 

Harold passed on through the communication 
trench until he reached the first line once more. 
Arriving there he heard a great commotion going 
on, and the sharp rat-a-tat-tat of heavy machine 
gun fire. Bullets from the German trenches were 
spraying all about, and every man hugged the side 
of the trench and kept as low as he possibly could. 

“What’s the excitement?” demanded Harold of 
George Carter, who was kneeling on the firing 
step, his eyes glued to a trench periscope through 
which he surveyed No Man’s Land. 

“Take a look,” said George, moving away to 
give Harold an opportunity to see. 

Harold glanced through the periscope, and an 
exclamation of surprise escaped his lips at the 
sight which greeted his eyes. Three Germans, 
rifles in hand, were rushing at top speed towards 


104 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


the American trenches, and close behind them, 
urging them on, were three American soldiers, 
who crouched low as they ran and constantly ex- 
horted their prisoners to make more speed. Bul- 
lets from the machine guns in the German trenches 
kicked up the ground all about the speeding men. 

The American soldiers in the trenches cheered 
lustily for their comrades to make haste and bring 
in their captives. It was more thrilling, and ex- 
citement ran higher than at any football game 
Harold had ever seen. Here was a race against 
death, with three German prisoners and life itself 
as the stake of victory. One of the Germans fal- 
tered for a moment, but a prick from the bayonet 
of one of his captors urged him forward again 
with a squeal of pain. Loud cheers from the on- 
lookers greeted this occurrence. Nearer and nearer 
to their goal came the little band of six. The 
trenches were scarcely a hundred feet distant now, 
and with a final, supreme effort the three Amer- 
icans drove their captives over the parapet, and 
down into the trench among the wildly-cheering 
and enthusiastic soldiers. 

A dozen eager privates leaped upon the three 
prisoners, and almost in less time than it takes 
to tell it, had deprived them of all their weapons 


A NEW SOLDIER 


105 


and rendered them entirely harmless. The Amer- 
icans, who had made the capture, were too blown 
for a moment to do more than lie panting and 
puffing at the bottom of the trench. 

“Some race, bo,” remarked the irrepressible 
Boyle, who, of course, was in the center of things 
as quickly as possible. 

“Say,” gasped one of the three American sol- 
diers, “I never traveled so fast before in all my 
life.” 

Every one was in good spirits at the outcome of 
the scene that had just been enacted before their 
eyes. That particular section of the trench line 
had been very quiet lately, and the men welcomed 
a diversion, especially one that brought success to 
their side. Furthermore, German prisoners were 
always interesting. 

Lieutenant Carter at once took charge, and 
after complimenting the three soldiers who had 
made the capture, he turned to the prisoners. One 
of them was an under-officer and the other two 
were privates, while the insignia on their uniforms 
gave the information that they belonged to one 
of the regiments of the Prussian Guard, the crack 
corps of the German army. 

They were surly, sullen-looking men, very dif- 


106 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


ferent from the prisoners whom Harold and 
Boyle and Beam had brought in the day previous. 
Those men were Bavarians, far more agreeable 
individuals than these scowling Prussians. As a 
matter of fact the Bavarians had seemed rather 
relieved at being taken, and at no time had they 
made any attempt to conceal their dislike of their 
Prussian countrymen. 

* 6 We ’ll send these fellows on back to the 
major,” ordered George Carter. “One man will 
be enough to show them the way. Here, Boyle, 
I’ll put you in charge.” 

Boyle saluted, and stepped forward eagerly. 
This was the sort of work he loved. 

“Search them,” continued Lieutenant Carter. 
“Take their bayonets off their rifles, see that they 
have no ammunition and then give them their 
guns to carry. You don’t want to carry them, do 
you Boyle?” 

“Thank you, no,” replied Thomas with a grin. 
“They look strong enough to do that.” 

Carter’s orders were soon carried out, each 
German had his rifle returned to him, and the lit- 
tle procession was ready to proceed. 

“You’d better walk behind, Boyle,” said 


A NEW SOLDIER 107 

George. 4 i You can keep your eye on them better 
that way . 1 ’ 

4 4 Yes, sir,” grinned Thomas, delighted with the 
work he had to do. 

The entrance to the communication trench was 
near at hand, and close by the corner George Car- 
ter took his place. “Go ahead,” ordered Boyle. 
He pointed in the direction of the communication 
trench. The Germans scowled at him darkly, but 
he raised his rifle threateningly and they started 
in the direction he had indicated. 

Proud as a peacock at the responsibility thrust 
upon him, Boyle fell in behind, and found oppor- 
tunity to bestow a couple of knowing winks upon 
his admiring comrades. He did not forget his 
prisoners, however, and watched their every move. 
As they approached the communication trench, 
George indicated by signs that they were to turn 
off there. He flattened himself against the wall 
of the trench to make room for them to pass. 
Then something happened very suddenly and un- 
expectedly. 

As the German who was in the lead came oppo- 
site the spot where George Carter was standing, 
he stopped short, let his rifle slip from his shoul- 
der, seized the barrel with both hands and then 


108 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


swinging it aloft lie brought it down with all his 
strength, striking the unprepared young lieuten- 
ant full in the ribs. There was a dull, sickening 
thud, and George sank limply to the ground, a tiny 
stream of red flowing from his nose and mouth. 

For a moment there was absolute silence. Then, 
when the soldiers standing around realized what 
had taken place, a full-throated roar of rage 
broke forth, and men who a moment before had 
been interested spectators of the proceedings, sud- 
denly became transformed into wild, ravening ani- 
mals. Their beloved young lieutenant, whom 
every one of them loved, had been treacherously 
struck down before their very eyes. It was more 
than these spirited young Americans could stand. 

Only a week before they had found one of 
their men, who had been cut off from a night 
patrol by the Germans, lying out between the 
trenches, his body mutilated almost beyond recog- 
nition. Another comrade, captured by the enemy, 
had been crucified over the German trenches in 
plain sight of his countrymen. An American bul- 
let mercifully had put an end to his sufferings. 
These young Americans were good sportsmen and 
clean fighters, but what they had seen of German 
methods and practices had changed their smol- 


A NEW SOLDIER 


109 


dering rage into strong and violent hatred. When 
the Hnns tried some of their tricks in an American 
trench it was the last straw. 

With a yell like that of a madman Boyle sprang 
at the man who had so foully struck down the 
young lieutenant. Using his rifle like a club he 
brought it down with all his strength upon the 
head of the offending Prussian. The man’s head 
was shattered like a broken eggshell ; never again 
would he break the rules of war and decency. As 
for the other two Germans, the outraged Ameri- 
cans sprang upon them, and before Harold, who 
was standing close by, had an opportunity to in- 
terfere, they too were dead. 

* c Attention!” ordered Harold loudly, and the 
soldiers, unconsciously obeying the well-known 
command, drew themselves up, their heels together 
and their arms at their sides. “What does this 
mean?’’ he demanded sharply. “Remember 
you’re not Germans to do a thing like that.” 

Not a man blinked an eyelash. With stern, 
white-lipped faces, every one of them stood mo- 
tionless, eyes to the front, without moving a 
muscle. 

“Burnett and Charlton, pick up Lieutenant Car- 


110 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


ter, and see that he gets medical attention at the 
earliest possible moment.” 

The two men hastened to obey, and quickly pro- 
curing a stretcher, placed the injured young lieu- 
tenant on it, and carried him away. 

At this moment Captain Norris appeared with 
Hugo Hoffmann, who was now wearing a regula- 
tion United States army uniform. He had not 
been aware of the recent excitement and knew 
nothing about George Carter’s mishap, or how it 
had occurred. He looked in amazement at the 
three dead Germans, and at the soldiers standing 
at attention. 

“What’s this, Lieutenant?” he asked. 

Harold saluted, and explained what had oc- 
curred. Captain Norris listened gravely until 
Harold had finished. 

“I’ll take charge of the affair,” he said. “Do 
you know the names of the men who were re- 
sponsible for this business?” 

Harold glanced along the row of soldiers, and 
as he did so, his eye met Thomas Boyle’s for the 
fraction of a second. 

“They all had a hand in it, sir,” he replied. 
Boyle was the one man whose actions he had seen ; 
the others were in such a tangle of arms, and legs, 


A NEW SOLDIER 


111 


and bodies that he had not been able to see which 
ones were actually responsible for the killing of 
the Germans. He did not like to mention Boyle’s 
name to the captain, for why should he be pun- 
ished more than the others 1 He thought, by say- 
ing that all of them had had a hand in it — which 
was true — his loyal and stout-hearted corporal 
would not sutler any more than the others. Fur- 
thermore he was so affected by what had happen- 
ed to George that he felt almost glad for a moment 
at what the men had done. That too in spite of 
the fact that he knew it was entirely wrong. 

Perhaps Captain Norris sensed something of 
what was taking place in his young lieutenant’s 
mind, for he did not press the matter further. 

“I suppose they all did their share,” he said. 
* 6 Thank you, Lieutenant. ’ ’ 

Harold gave way, and took his stand beside 
Hugo Hoffmann. 

“You see what happens to men who don’t play 
fair,” he said. 


CHAPTER X 


IN THE AIR 

G EORGE CARTER was taken to the hos- 
pital, gravely injured. Two of his ribs 
had been broken by the force of the blow, 
and one shattered hone had been driven into his 
lungs, puncturing them badly. His internal or- 
gans had been seriously torn, and for a time there 
was doubt whether or not he would survive. A 
robust constitution and a strong body did their 
work well, however, and when a few days had 
elapsed the doctors announced that he would re- 
cover. But there was no chance of his being fit for 
active service again for many weeks to come. 

Captain Norris did not press the matter of the 
punishment of the men who had inflicted such 
swift retribution on the three Germans. Pos- 
sibly he felt, as Harold had, that perhaps they 
could not be blamed too much for what they had 
done. Every man in the company, and every of- 
ficer in the regiment, loved George Carter, and his 
112 


IN THE AIR 


113 


loss was keenly felt. His manly qualities of cour- 
age and devotion to duty had endeared him to all 
with whom he had come in contact. 

Meanwhile life in the trenches went on much 
as before for there was little activity on this sec- 
tion of the front. There was the usual artillery 
firing every day and night, the patrols went out 
into No Man’s Land as usual, and now and then 
a brush with an enemy party lent spice to life. 
There was a small patch cf woods between the 
lines at this sector and there it was that the three 
Germans had been captured. The three Ameri- 
cans who had made the capture had been on patrol 
duty, and being stationed in the woods, had seen 
the Germans approaching and prepared an am- 
bush for them. How successful it had proven to 
be has been told in the preceding chapter; the 
Germans, taken completely by surprise, had had 
no choice but to give themselves up when the 
Americans had sprung out at them. 

Hugo Hoffmann was proving himself an excel- 
lent soldier. Harold did not trust him entirely, 
but he had to confess that in spite of his doubts 
there seemed to be no good reason why he should 
question the man’s sincerity. He was quiet, and 


114 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 

well-behaved, and already had imparted much 
valuable information to the Intelligence Corps 
concerning the German trenches and troops oppo- 
site the American positions. 

Harold wrote to his younger brother Bob about 
it all, however. Bob’s flying squadron was sta- 
tioned somewhere near that particular part of 
France, Harold knew, but just where he, of course, 
could not be positive. Letters addressed to him 
merely stated the number of his squadron and 
were delivered through headquarters. The two 
brothers had not seen each other since Harold had 
landed in France, but naturally they corresponded 
frequently. 

So Harold had written to Bob telling him about 
this man Hoffmann who had so unexpectedly be- 
come a member of the American forces. He had 
not felt sure of the fellow from the start, though 
everything Hoffmann did or said seemed to con- 
firm the statement he had made that he hated the 
Germans, and wished to fight against them. Still 
Harold did not feel easy, and he desired Bob’s 
opinion. 

Nothing happened, however, to intimate in any 
way that there was ground for Harold’s uneasi- 
ness, and presently the regiment was ordered out 


IN THE AIR 


115 


of the trenches and back of the lines for a rest. 
A small French village was selected for them to 
occupy, and the men were billeted (that is quar- 
tered) in the various houses of the town. Har- 
old, Captain Norris, and two other officers were 
assigned to a small whitewashed dwelling, pre- 
sided over by a talkative Frenchwoman whose 
husband and two sons were all at the front. All 
three had been wounded, hut fortunately not so 
badly that they could not fight, and one of them, 
the elder boy, had been awarded the croix de 
guerre for rescuing a wounded comrade under 
heavy fire at Verdun. 

It was very interesting to Harold to live in a 
French home, and he improved the opportunity to 
learn many of the French words he heard. He 
had a slight knowledge of the language be- 
fore he came to France, and he now was desirous 
of perfecting and adding to his small vocabulary. 
The French residents of the house were just as 
eager to learn English, however, and as they 
seemed to be more apt at acquiring new languages 
than the Americans, the result was that the sol- 
diers did not learn much French, but the French 
people did learn considerable English. 

The French family consisted of Mme. Lamar- 


116 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


tine, a daughter sixteen years old, and two boys, 
Pierre, who was twelve, and Henri, who was eight. 
At least these were the members of the family who 
were at home, for as has already been stated the 
husband and two elder sons were with the army. 
Little Henri soon became a great favorite with 
the officers ; he was a sturdy little fellow with black 
hair and eyes and a winning smile that no one 
could resist. All day long he played soldier, 
marching up and down with his stubby wooden 
gun, and never did he fail to present arms if any 
troops passed through the village. Nor did he 
ever miss an opportunity to salute an officer, and 
few there were who neglected to acknowledge the 
courtesy by saluting in return. 

Harold had been sitting at the window of the 
Lamartine dwelling, writing home to his mother, 
and incidentally watching Henri who waited in 
front of the house hoping for an opportunity to 
show himself to some passing officer. For a long 
time he had waited in vain, but he marched and 
counter-marched, and went through the manual of 
arms while he kept an anxious eye on the highway 
for approaching soldiers. At length his patience 
was rewarded, and Harold saw a young American 
officer coming down the road. 


IN THE AIR 


117 


Henri stood at attention, and as the officer was 
about to pass by be saluted stiffly, bis face as 
solemn as an owl’s. The young officer looked at 
the diminutive soldier with a smile of amusement, 
then catching the spirit of the game, be stopped, 
clicked bis heels together, and returned the salute 
as gravely as it had been rendered. 

Henri blushed with delight and pride. He was 
accustomed to having his salutes returned hut 
never so formally as this. Harold was watching 
the performance with interest, when suddenly he 
sprang to his feet, nearly upsetting the table at 
which he was seated, and dashed wildly for the 
door. He had recognized the young officer as a 
brother of his. 

“Hey, Skinnay!” he called. 

Thus addressed, the lieutenant stopped and 
looked around in amazement. Then he spied Har- 
old in the doorway. 

1 ‘ Hello, Harold, ’ ’ he cried joyfully. 4 ‘ What are 
you doing here?” 

“What are you doing here yourself?” demand- 
ed Harold. 


CHAPTER XI 


THE CKY FKOM THE HOUSE 

T HE excitement of the two brothers was so 
keen that for a brief time even the peril 
of their surroundings and the fact of the 
Big War itself were almost ignored. 

“I never was so glad to see any one in my life,” 
exclaimed Bob. “I always thought you were a 
good looking boy, but you never looked so good 
to me before.” 

“That’s the way to talk,” laughed Harold. 
“My, how you have grown! You’re not my kid 
brother any more.” 

“Don’t talk to me that way,” retorted Bob 
in some confusion. “I’m sensitive about being 
told that I am getting to be a big boy. The fact 
is I was growing some after you left home, but, 
honestly, since I’ve been over here in the Flying 
Corps I’ve gained seventeen pounds.” 

“That’s all because you did some work to-day,” 
retorted his brother. 

Bob made as if he was about to seize his brother 
118 


THE CRY FROM THE HOUSE 119 


in his arms, but the latter easily evaded him and 
the boys once more resumed their interesting con- 
versation. 

4 ‘ When did you last hear from home?” in- 
quired Harold when at last each had given the 
other the full outline of his experiences since he 
had landed in France. 

“I had a letter last week.” 

“How are they all?” demanded Harold eagerly. 

“Well. At least that’s what they write. I 
wonder sometimes if they would tell us the truth 
if anything did really happen.” 

“I think they would. You know that’s father’s 
way. You can always depend absolutely upon 
what he says. ’ ’ 

At his urgent invitation his brother was re- 
ceived into the little house in which the young lieu- 
tenant had been billeted. Bob ’s machine required 
some overhauling and it was uncertain just how 
soon he would he able to return to his base. 
Neither of the hoys, however, spent much time 
in lamenting the possible delay. There were so 
many questions to be asked, such varied experi- 
ences to be related, as well as the pleasure each 
had in the company of the other, that both were 
content to remain for a time as they were. 


120 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 

At last after most of their topics of conversa- 
tion had been exhausted, Boh told his brother of 
his own suspicions of Hugo Hoffmann.* He also 
related the faithfulness with which Burnett had 
discharged his duties and the friendly manner in 
which he had aided him several times when he 
had been perplexed about his machine. 

“ There are a good many suspicious characters 
here,” suggested Harold. “Several times we 
have found men who have been taken out of the 
trenches, and never were heard of again.” 

“What do you mean? Were they Germans?” 

“Not all of them, but every one is watching be- 
cause we are all afraid some desperate villain may 
be willing to sell his life if he can only do some 
damage to us.” 

For a long time after supper the boys continued 
their conversation, much of which now concerned 
the suspicions they both entertained of Hugo 
Hoffmann. Bob related how Hoffmann had again 
appeared. He declared that the explanation that 
Hoffmann was in the secret service did not satisfy 
him. There was still a great mystery surrounding 
the man and this also concerned Burnett. 

At last Harold declared he must return to his 

*See “Bob Cook and the German Air Fleet .’ ’ 


THE CRY FROM THE HOUSE 121 


post. Bob, however, insisted upon accompanying 
him as far as he would be permitted to go. The 
boys walked slowly along the street of the little 
village, Henri, much to his disgust, being refused 
permission to accompany the soldiers. The little 
fellow had stuck close to the brothers throughout 
their stay, insisting upon being seated first in the 
lap of the aviator and then in that of the young 
soldier. 

* 4 Maybe,’ ’ suggested Harold, as the boys de- 
parted from the house, 4 ‘ I can get Captain Carter 
(Lieutenant Carter had just been promoted) to 
release me for a little while when I tell him what 
has happened to me. It isn’t often that one has 
a visit from his only brother. I think I’m the only 
one in my company who has seen any of his fam- 
ily since he landed in France.” 

“ That’s all right,” said Bob good-naturedly. 
“I’ll go with you and I’m sure the captain will 
not refuse when he sees what a fine representative 
of your family has looked you up. ’ ’ 

“He might not be so enthusiastic if we told him 
how it all happened,” said Harold demurely. 

“You’re the same big brother that you have 
always been,” laughed Bob. “You take yourself 
so seriously that you think all the wisdom of the 


122 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


world will die with you when you stop breathing.” 

4 ‘It isn’t so much that I have as it is the little 
that some other people have,” retorted Harold. 
“I was just about to say ” 

Whatever was in the young soldier’s mind was 
instantly forgotten when at that moment there 
came a sudden cry from the little house that stood 
at the end of the village street. The little white- 
washed structure was far from every other dwell- 
ing place and the building had not been occupied 
since Harold had been billeted in the village. 

‘ ‘ What was that ? What was that ? ’ ’ demanded 
Bob in a whisper as he grasped the arm of his 
brother. 

“I don’t know,” replied Harold, “but it’s some- 
thing that must be looked into. Come on and we ’ll 
soon find out. Is your revolver all right?” 

“Yes,” replied Bob. 

Both boys were silent as they turned swiftly in 
the direction from which the unexpected cry 
had come. The startling sound had not been 
repeated. As they ran forward, the boys soon 
discovered that others had been startled by the 
weird call for help and also were running toward 
the place from which the alarming sound had been 
heard. 


THE CRY FROM THE HOUSE 123 


The Cook brothers, however, were in advance 
of the others and soon were approaching the place 
they were seeking. As they drew near they dis- 
covered a man clad in an American uniform lying 
prostrate on the ground near the road. Instantly 
hastening to the spot, the boys turned the man 
upon his back, for he was lying face downward. 

“It’s Sam Harrison,’ ’ exclaimed Harold in a 
low voice. 

‘ ‘Is he dead ? ’ ’ inquired Bob in a whisper. 

“I think so,” replied Harold, who already had 
loosened the garments of the man and had placed 
his hand over his heart. “I think he’s dead,” he 
added. 

By this time several other soldiers had arrived 
at the place and eagerly were inquiring as to the 
cause of the alarm. 

“Sam Harrison has been shot,” explained Har- 
old briefly. 

“Who did it?” demanded one of the soldiers. 

“That’s what I should like to find out,” an- 
swered Harold. “It may be that a spent bullet 
or a piece of a shell struck him. The first thing 
that must be done is to take him away for help.” 

Conversation ceased as the men gently raised 


124 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 

the fallen soldier and carried him in the direction 
of the hospital. 

“You stay here with me, Bob,” directed Har- 
old. “I want to look around here a hit and find 
out whether or not the man was shot by any one 
in the house.” 

“Do you really think he was?” asked Bob ex- 
citedly. 

“I tell you that’s what I want to find out. If 
I knew already I shouldn’t be doing what I’m 
going to do now. ’ ’ 

“What’s that?” 

“I tell you I’m going to try to find out if there’s 
anything wrong inside the house.” 

“Are you going in there in the dark?” 

“It isn’t very dark.” 

“It’s dark enough though to hide any one who 
may be in there and you will make a good target 
for him when you stand in the open doorway. I 
think you ought to wait until some of the other 
men come back and we have enough to form a 
guard around the place.” 

“That’s a good suggestion for a kid. I wish 
you would go to the hospital right away and tell 
the men that I want them to come back here. ’ ’ 


THE CRY FROM THE HOUSE 125 


“Promise me that you won’t go inside the house 
until we come and I’ll do it,” answered Boh. 

“What do you think I am? I’m going to take 
my stand behind this poplar and just watch to see 
if any one comes out of the house.” 

Meanwhile Bob sped toward the hospital and 
when he arrived he discovered that the men who 
had brought the fallen soldier to the place were 
still there. In response to his question he was 
informed that the soldier was dead. His mates 
were angrily discussing plans as to how the one 
who had shot him could be detected and what 
measures might be employed to punish him. 

“I tell you,” one of them was saying, “Sam 
had a quarrel last night with one of the old men in 
the village. The old chap wanted to charge him 
five francs for a piece of chocolate. Sam told him 
he wouldn’t pay that much for it and the old fel- 
low was going to have him arrested. ’ ’ 

“Why didn’t Sam give him back the chocolate 
if he didn’t want to pay for it?” inquired one of 
them. 

“He couldn’t.”' 

“Why not?” 

“Because he put himself outside the chocolate 


126 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 

so soon that there wasn’t any chance to give it 
back. ’ ’ 

“ Didn’t he pay the old man?” 

“Oh, yes, he finally paid him, but he told him 
he was a thief and a robber. Some of these 
Frenchmen are very fond of the Americans.” 

“Right you are,” spoke up another soldier 
promptly. “They’re fond of them the way a dog 
is fond of a piece of meat. They think we’re made 
of money and they want to pry loose some of it 
before anybody else has a chance.” 

“Poor Sam won’t have any more trouble of 
that kind,” said one of the soldiers. 

“Right you are,” acknowledged the first speak- 
er, “but I’m wondering who shot him.” 

Bob Cook had arrived just in time to overhear 
the remark of the soldier. “My brother wants 
you to come back to the house,” he explained sim- 
ply. 

“What does he want?” inquired the soldier. 

“I don’t know, but I have an idea that he in- 
tends to go inside the building and find out if any- 
body is hiding there. He is watching the place 
now and he wants you to come right back and 
stand guard over the house while he’s search- 
ing it. ’ ’ 


THE CRY FROM THE HOUSE 127 


i ‘Come on, fellows !” called the soldier who had 
been the chief spokesman of the party. “We’ll 
go back and stand by the lieutenant. He’s a good 
one, for he has always stood by us.” 

Hastily the men turned and all ran quickly 
back in the direction of the house where Lieuten- 
ant Harold was maintaining his watch. 

In a brief time the squad of eight found the 
young lieutenant and reported that they were 
willing to assist in the task he was about to un- 
dertake. 


CHAPTER XII 


THE SEARCH 

I N the dim light it was manifest to Bob that the 
men were keenly excited. The mystery of the 
death of their comrade and the determination 
of the young lieutenant to investigate the interior 
of the house increased the interest of every sol- 
dier. The building appeared to be very old. At 
one corner a shell had demolished a part of the 
walls and given to the structure an appearance of 
weakness. The shot, however, had not caused the 
family to leave the building, until the Americans 
had required the ground, as it was near the 
trenches they were enlarging. 

Lieutenant Harold assembled his men and in a 
low voice said to them, “I suspect there is some 
sniper hidden in that house. I’m going to find 
out. That’s the reason why I sent for you. I 
want Corporal Bliven to establish a guard. You’d 
better put another one on each of the three sides,” 
he added, turning to the corporal as he spoke. 
128 


THE SEARCH 


129 


Then once more addressing the soldiers the young 
lieutenant continued, “I want every one of you 
to look sharp and see that there isn’t any one mak- 
ing a dash from the old building. ,, 

“Who’s going in?” inquired Corporal Bliven. 

“I am,” replied Harold quietly. 

“Alone?” 

“Yes, alone. There isn’t any use of risking 
the lives of more than one man, at least at this 
stage of the game. If I need help you’re near at 
hand. If I don’t need help, then no one else is 
running any risk.” 

“Harold,” spoke up Bob quickly. “I’m going 
in there with you.” 

Harold did not reply to the declaration of his 
impulsive young brother, but immediately directed 
the corporal to establish his guards. As soon as 
these arrangements had been completed Harold 
advanced to the front entrance of the building and 
halting a moment said in a loud voice, “We want 
you to come out of the house. We have thrown a 
guard around the building and if you come out 
peaceably there won’t be any trouble. If you 
don’t come out in that way we shall come in and 
drag you out and then I can tell you you won’t 
have as pleasant a time. Your French is better 


130 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


than mine," he added, turning to his brother, who 
had advanced to his side without any protest by 
the young officer. “You tell them what I have 
just said." 

Thus bidden Bob translated into French the 
hail which his brother had given. There was a 
suspicion in his mind that his English might be 
understood if any one was hiding within. On the 
other hand it was wiser to use both languages and 
thus enable any one who might be concealed there 
to understand the demand which had been made 
upon him. 

Neither of the boys thought of using German 
for it did not occur to either that a German sol- 
dier might be hidden within the crumbling walls. 

No reply was given the hail although the boys 
waited in silence for an answer. They saw that 
the guards were as keenly interested as they were 
and the failure to elicit any response to their sum- 
mons apparently was in line with the expectations 
of the men. 

Some of them openly had declared that the sol- 
dier that had fallen had been shot by some one in 
ihe little village. It was deemed improbable that 
any enemy of the dead man would venture to use 
the house as a hiding-place because he would un- 


THE SEARCH 


131 


derstand that if a gun was fired from within the 
building it would be equivalent to a declaration 
that the one who had shot had no expectation of 
escaping. 

The young lieutenant turned to his brother and 
said in a low voice, “You stay right here on the 
piazza, Bob. ,, 

“I don’t want you to go in there alone,’ ’ de- 
clared Bob impulsively. 

“I’m not afraid,” declared the young officer. 
“With a guard established on three sides of the 
house and with you on the piazza it isn’t likely 
that any one in the building will try to get me.” 

Without any further words Harold entered 
through the open doorway. When he pushed back 
the half-opened door the hinges creaked in a man- 
ner that startled his waiting brother, who imme- 
diately darted forward. 

“It’s nothing, Bob,” explained Harold quietly. 
“Go back and take your stand where I told you. 
I must know that you are there in case you’re 
needed.” 

Quickly the young lieutenant entered the build- 
ing and disappeared from sight. He was easily 
heard as he stamped about the rooms, frequently 


132 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


stopping and calling upon any one who might be 
there to give himself up. 

The search proved unavailing when at last Lieu- 
tenant Harold had investigated every room on the 
ground floor and turning again to his brother he 
said, “Bob, you may come in here and stand at 
the foot of the staircase. I'm going upstairs." 

Aware that it was useless to protest, Bob did as 
he was bidden and anxiously watched his brother 
as he mounted the creaking stairway. 

When he had arrived at the little hallway at the 
head of the stairs, Harold again stopped and re- 
peated the summons for the man within to give 
himself up. Once more his invitation was unheed- 
ed and no response was made to his hail. 

The silence in the house became oppressive. 
Bob, who was still standing where his brother had 
ordered him to take his position, was increasingly 
anxious. Even the peril of flying high above the 
German lines had not produced the tremors which 
now frequently swept over him. It may have been 
that his anxiety for his brother was the greater 
because he himself was compelled to be inactive. 
At all events, as the slow moments passed his fears 
increased and he was on the point of mounting 


THE SEAECH 


133 


the stairway to search for Harold when his brother 
again appeared. 

“It is almost as light as day,” Harold said. 
“I’ve looked everywhere in the house and cannot 
find a sign of any one hiding here. And yet some- 
how I feel quite certain that the shot was fired 
from within the building.” 

“ Don ’t you want me to come up and help you ? ’ ’ 
inquired Bob quickly. 

“No,” answered Harold, who still was standing 
at the head of the stairway, as if he were expect- 
ing to have his summons answered. A window di- 
rectly behind his brother enabled Bob to discern 
clearly the outlines of Harold’s figure. In his 
right hand he was holding a revolver and although 
he was talking to his brother, Harold manifestly 
was leaning toward the room from which he had 
just come. 

“Come on,” said Harold at last, as he descend- 
ed the stairway. “There’s nothing more to be 
done here to-night.” 

When the young officer came out of the building 
he once more assembled the guard and explained 
that his search had been fruitless. “And yet,” 
he added, “I’m not dead sure that there isn’t 


134 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


somebody in there. Poor Sam Harrison conld tell 
us if only he could speak.” 

“ Don’t you want us to go up with you and turn 
things upside down!” inquired Corporal Bliven. 
“We wouldn’t like anything better. We’ll stick 
our bayonets into every hole in the walls and if 
there’s anybody there he’ll know that we aren’t 
far away.” 

Harold hesitated a moment and then said quick- 
ly, “It’s taking some chances, I know, but I think 
I’ll do as you suggest. The whole crowd of you 
can go in together, and turn everything upside 
down. If you need a light I’ll get one for you, but 
I don’t like to do that unless it’s absolutely nec- 
essary. A torch makes the man who is carrying it 
such a good target that the Boches, if any of them 
are in there, couldn’t resist the impulse to shoot.” 

“You don’t think there are any Germans in 
there, do you!” demanded Corporal Bliven 
sharply. 

“I don’t know,” answered Harold. “All I’m 
sure of is that Sam Harrison was shot and he was 
right near the old house when the shooting took 
place.” 

“We’ll soon find out,” declared the corporal 
quickly. He turned to his men and in a brief time 


THE SEARCH 


135 


all had entered the building to renew the search. 

Meanwhile Bob and his brother remained stand- 
ing in front of the building. It was possible there 
for them to see any one who passed either corner 
of the house. 

The noisy shouts of the men as they continued 
their search of the building, the repeated calls of 
the young corporal who ordered his unseen ene- 
mies to give themselves up, continued. Still the 
house refused to give up its inmates, if any were 
concealed in the building. 

The search continued for half an hour, but when 
the men at last rejoined the young lieutenant they 
were every one convinced that no one was hiding 
in the place. 

i ‘ We’ll have to give it up,” said the lieutenant 
in a loud voice. A moment later, however, he 
whispered to the corporal, “I think that you had 
better leave some one on guard here. I’m not sure 
that there isn’t some hiding-place here that we 
haven’t found.” 

“That’s the very thing I was going to sug- 
gest, ’ ’ replied the corporal quickly. “ We ’ll leave 
a guard here and if anything happens I’ll report 
to you right away.” 

“That’s the way we’ll leave it then,” said the 


136 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


lieutenant as lie and his brother prepared to de- 
part. 

At that moment, however, a man was seen 
coming around the corner of the building, and to 
the confusion of both Harold and Bob another 
man was discovered approaching from the op- 
posite side. 

“That’s Hoffmann!” whispered Bob excitedly 
to the lieutenant. “That’s the very man I was 
suspicious of.” 

“Who is that other fellow?” 

As the man drew nearer Bob’s surprise was 
great. In the dim light he recognized Burnett. 


CHAPTER XHI 


MOKE SUSPICIONS 

T HE approach of the men was not noticed 
by the soldiers. Perhaps the dim light 
and the interest with which they had been 
watching the interior of the crumbling building 
had made them oblivious of the approach of men 
clad in the uniform of their army. 

To Bob Cook and his brother the unexpected 
appearance of the two men, about whom they had 
been talking, was more than a coincidence. How- 
ever, both Hoffmann and Burnett did not stop 
nor did they speak to each other when they met 
and passed on the street. The Cook brothers 
watched them with interest until they both dis- 
appeared from sight. 

Lieutenant Harold, after stationing a guard for 
the night at the ruined building, withdrew 
from the place and accompanied Bob to the house 
in which they had been billeted. It was late now 
and little Henri did not greet them. His absence 
137 


138 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


was noticed by the brothers and Bob laughingly 
said, ‘ i If the little chap had been with us to-night 
he would have insisted upon being left as a guard. 
He’s a good sport. I don’t know when I’ve seen a 
little fellow whom I liked better. ’ ’ 

His brother laughed, but made no response and 
together the boys entered the house. 

In the morning Bob received word that his ma- 
chine was in need of additional repairs and that 
at least two days would be required before he 
could use it again. The information was not dis- 
heartening and having the privilege of being with 
his brother extended for two days, in a large 
measure relieved him of all anxiety about his re- 
turn. Part of the time Harold was busy. There 
were drills to be maintained and the supplies must 
be looked after, but none of these duties interfered 
with the rest which was given the men when they 
were sent back from the trenches. 

Frequently the boys talked over the mystery 
surrounding Hoffmann. Twice they had met the 
soldier in the village, but apparently he did not 
recognize either of them and passed, simply salut- 
ing the young officer. 

“I don’t know just what to make of that fel- 
low,” said Bob thoughtfully in the afternoon fol- 


MORE SUSPICIONS 


139 


lowing the death of Sam Harrison. “I have been 
suspicious of him ever since I first saw him.” 

“He does have a shifty look,” assented Harold, 
as he glanced over his shoulder at the departing 
man. 

“Do you think he could have had anything 
to do with the shooting of that private last night?” 

“Why should he want to shoot him?” inquired 
Harold, who, true to his Yankee traits, was an- 
swering one question by asking another. 

“I don’t know anything about that,” retorted 
Bob. “All I know is that somebody in or near 
that old house shot Sam Harrison. There isn’t 
any question about his being dead. Now, the only 
question left is to find out who did it. ’ ’ 

“We shall find out,” declared Harold posi- 
tively. 

‘ ‘ How do you know ? What makes you so sure ? ’ ’ 

“It always does come out if there’s a traitor in 
the camp. He can’t hide it any more than he can 
change the color of his eyes.” 

“I have heard of men who could do that. I re- 
member one of the foremen in father’s mills in 
High Ridge whose eyes were gray, but they be- 
came almost black when he was excited or angry. ’ ’ 

“Just what is there about this fellow Hoffmann 


140 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


that makes you so suspicious of him, Bob?” de- 
manded Harold, ignoring his brother’s words. 

“ That’s the strange part of it all,” replied Bob. 
“You feel it, you’re almost sure of it, and yet you 
can’t put your finger on anything that is really 
reliable. You can’t get away from it,” he added, 
“that he showed up near the old house right after 
we had searched the place. It seems to me that’s 
a little suspicious. Doesn’t it look that way to 
you ? ’ ’ 

“It doesn’t in itself. Of course if there is any- 
thing in what you say, why that gives a little color 
to the other side. What can we do more than we 
have been doing?” 

‘ ‘ I think it would be a good thing if you should 
talk it over with your captain.” 

“That’s a good suggestion,” said Harold cor- 
dially. “I’ll arrange, if I can, to go with you up 
to Captain Carter’s quarters to-night and you 
can tell him your whole story. If he knows any- 
thing more than you do about Hoffmann it may 
help him. I’m sure of one thing, and that is that 
if Hoffmann is a suspicious character, then Cap- 
tain Carter knows that he is.” 

The conversation ceased as the boys once more 
returned to the house in which they were billeted. 


MORE SUSPICIONS 


141 


That same evening another body of troops were 
sent back from the front trenches for a rest in 
the little village. Two of these men were assigned 
to the house in which the Cook boys were staying 
and in response to their questions they were soon 
informed of conditions at the extreme front. 

“It’s a strange thing,’ ’ one of the men ex- 
plained, “that happened to us last night.” 

“What was that?” inquired the young lieuten- 
ant as the soldier ceased speaking. 

“Why there were two things really,” explained 
the soldier, “one was that the barbed wire directly 
in front of us somehow had been strangely cut. 
We don’t know who did it and no one seems to 
know just when it was done.” 

“Then how do you know it was done at all?” 
inquired Harold, who was deeply interested in the 
statement. 

“It was plain enough in the morning,” answered 
the soldier. “That same night too there was a 
fire, or rather a signal of some kind, — at least we 
all believed it to be a signal, — that suddenly went 
up from our trenches. I don’t see how it was pos- 
sible for such a thing to happen and yet we all 
know it did for we saw this strange red light sud- 
denly appear. We found out this morning that it 


142 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


was directly above the place where the barbed wire 
had been cut. Naturally, we put the two things 
together and concluded that we had a traitor some- 
where in the ranks, who was giving information to 
the Germans as to just when it would be safe for 
them to attack. ” 

“But they didn’t attack, did they?” inquired 
Bob. 

“Not last night.” 

“Why not, if they had the signal and the wires 
were cut?” 

“I don’t know,” said the soldier, “unless some- 
thing went wrong. At all events there wasn’t 
even a patrol seen by any of our men and yet the 
barbed wire was down for forty feet or more.” 

“Haven’t you any idea how it was done?” 

“There’s some talk,” answered the soldier, 
“that somebody from our own trenches went out 
there and cut those wires. Just how he could 
have done it without being found out, I don’t 
know, but it was plain to us all this morning that 
the thing had been done.” 

“Have you any suspicions as to the one who 
did it?” 

“We don’t know that it was one fellow, there 
may have been two or three in the job. Some of us 


MORE SUSPICIONS 


143 


have our suspicions about a man who is said to be 
right here in this place.” 

“Now?” spoke up Bob quickly. 

“Yes, that is he was here at the last report.” 

“Do you know his name?” 

“Yes.” 

“What is it?” inquired Bob leaning forward in 
his excitement, a feeling which was manifestly 
shared by his brother. 

“We’re not supposed to mention any names.” 

“Do you want me to tell you who it is?” spoke 
up Bob. 

“Yes,” answered the soldier evidently surprised 
by the question. 

“Is the first letter of his name H?” asked Bob. 

“I told you I shan’t tell you what his name is,” 
replied the soldier. The expression of surprise, 
however, that appeared upon his face strength- 
ened greatly the suspicion which both the Cook 
boys in their hearts had for Hoffmann. And after 
they had left their comrade and thoughtfully were 
walking along the little street even Harold was 
unable to shake off his fear that Hoffmann might 
indeed be the dangerous character that Bob in- 
sisted he was. 

On the morning of the following day the fears 


144 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


and suspicions in the minds of the hoys were 
further strengthened when still another small body 
of troops came from the trenches. Wearied, as 
the men were by their labors one of them was still 
so keenly excited over an occurrence of the pre- 
ceding night that he was unable to remain silent. 

He insisted upon telling Lieutenant Harold that 
in spite of the report of the cut barbed-wire the 
Germans had sent a small patrol against the very 
place in front of which the wire had been cut. In 
response to Harold’s questions the soldier said 
that no further signals had been displayed and 
nothing more had occurred to arouse the suspicion 
of the men in the trenches that a traitor was in 
their midst. 

It was now time for Harold to return to his du- 
ties in the trenches. Already he had recovered 
from the effects of his former experiences and was 
eager to go back. 4 ‘Every minute we spend there,” 
he explained to Bob, “may mean that the war is 
just that much shorter. Peace cannot come too 
soon to suit me, if it is of the right kind.” 

“What is the right kind?” inquired his brother. 

“You know as well as I do. We’ve got to put 
an end to this thing or it will put an end to us. 
If we don’t smash these fellows in the other 


MORE SUSPICIONS 


145 


trenches it will mean that they will smash ns and 
if they do there’s nothing to stop the Germans 
from marching straight into Paris just as they 
set out to do when they first started this world 
war.” 

4 4 But they aren’t going through,” declared Boh 
positively. 4 4 You haven’t forgotten what the word 
at Yerdun was, have you?” 

44 I have not,” replied Harold with a smile. 
4 4 4 They shall not pass.’ If they do pass, why it 
will be only after every Yankee has sold his life 
dearly. There won’t he enough of the Boches to 
count when that time comes. Bah,” he added, 
4 4 how I hate the beasts. Bo you know, Bob, I 
would willingly give up my life this minute if I 
could only put about five of them out of the world 
before I leave?” 

4 4 Look there, Harold,” spoke up Boh quickly, 
4 4 there comes that man Burnett. He looks as if 
he was headed straight for us.” 

Bob’s prophecy proved to be true. Burnett at 
once left the street and started for the little house. 

When he drew near he stopped and standing 
awkwardly, said to Boh, 4 4 That machine of yours 
is almost ready for you.” 

4 4 Who did the repairing?” inquired Bob. 


146 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“I did. I fixed it myself,” answered Burnett. 
“I don’t dare leave those things to others, for 
there are some men around here who can’t be 
altogether trusted.” 

“Are you suspicious of any one in particular?” 
inquired Harold. 

“I don’t know that I have any right to say that, 
but there’s one man who doesn’t act as if he was 
very much in love with the work the United States 
is doing over here.” 

“ Is his name Hoffmann ? ’ ’ inquired Bob in a low 
voice. 

“How do you know? What made you think of 
him?” demanded Burnett abruptly. 

Bob laughed, disregarding the frown of his 
brother who did not approve of his reference by 
name to any suspected man. 

However, Burnett soon departed, leaving the 
boys still further confirmed in their belief that 
Hoffmann was a dangerous man and that it was 
their duty to consult Captain Carter at once and 
inform him of the peril which at any moment 
might beset the lines from the treacherous work 
of the suspected soldier. 


CHAPTER XIV 


AT THE LISTENING POST 

C APTAIN CARTER was not in his quarters 
and the hoys were unable to obtain any in- 
formation concerning his return. 

They soon departed from the place and as they 
moved along the little street they were both silent 
and each understood that the other was looking 
for some one to appear. It was unnecessary for 
either to mention the name of the person, for both 
understood that Hoffmann had made himself more 
thoroughly suspected by recent events than even 
he had been before. 

On their way they stopped at the hangar and 
the man who was there in charge informed Bob 
that Burnett was making the repairs on his ma- 
chine and that it would be necessary for him to be 
seen before he would know whether or not he could 
return in the aeroplane to the flying squadron. 

“I must find this man, — Burnett/ ’ said Bob 
quickly. “It may be that I ought to start to- 
night.’ ’ 


147 


148 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“You don’t know where he is.” 

“Of course I don’t,” laughed Bob. “If I did 
I shouldn’t have to look for him. But I ought 
to see him and find out just how much remains to 
be done on my machine.” 

Harold readily assented and the boys after two 
inquiries were informed that Burnett was bil- 
leted in the little house in which Hoffmann also 
was staying. Neither of them was sorry to learn 
that the man whom they suspected also was there, 
for they might obtain another opportunity to 
question him or to learn a little more of his recent 
deeds. 

Already the death of Harrison apparently had 
been ignored by the soldiers. Such an event was 
too common to create a lasting impression, espe- 
cially so since the men were constantly changing, 
new squads of weary men returning from the 
trenches for a rest, while others who had been 
given their opportunity were going back to the 
front. Because of this fact there were frequent 
changes in the makeup of the soldiers and the sole 
reason why Burnett and Hoffmann had remained 
was because both were considered expert me- 
chanics. 

The mystery of Harrison’s death, however, had 


AT THE LISTENING POST 


149 


not been entirely forgotten by Lieutenant Harold. 
No further information had been received nor had 
any other man fallen in a similar manner. There 
was of course a bare possibility that a stray bullet 
might have been the cause of Harrison’s death, 
but to Harold that chance seemed too remote to be 
worthy of serious consideration. 

When the boys arrived at the house they were 
seeking they found Burnett there, but Hoffmann 
was not present. 

“How long shall I have to wait for my ma- 
chine?” asked Bob as soon as he entered the 
house. 

“I told you it was almost ready,” said Burnett 
gruffly. 

“I know you did,” assented Bob, “and that’s 
the very reason why I want to know how much 
more there is to be done.” 

“I cannot tell,” growled Burnett, who for some 
unexplained reason appeared to be in extreme ill 
humor. 

“But I want to get back.” 

Burnett growled as he said, “If I was alone I 
would have had it ready for you this morning.” 

“Aren’t you the only one working on my ma- 
chine?” 


150 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“I am the only one that is supposed to be work- 
ing.” 

4 ‘What do you mean by that?” 

“Why, I’m afraid there are other men who may 
be doing things when I’m not here. That’s the 
reason why I don’t leave now.” 

“But there isn’t any one billeted here except 
Hoffmann, ’ ’ suggested Lieutenant Harold. 

“You have told the truth, young man.” 

“Then the only one who could do anything to 
the machine besides you is Hoffmann. ’ ’ 

“You have said it,” growled Burnett. 

“Do you think he’s trying to damage it?” in- 
quired Bob quickly. 

“I’m not saying anything except that I’m just 
telling you that I’ve got to be on the lookout all 
the time. I don’t intend to have anybody else 
spoil a good piece of work and then give me the 
credit for the damage if your flying machine 
breaks down before you have gone very far.” 

“Is everything all right now?” inquired Bob. 

“It was the last time I looked at it,” answered 
Burnett. 

“How long ago was that?” asked Harold, who 
was annoyed by the manner of the man before him 


AT THE LISTENING POST 151 

though he was unable to assign a reason for his 
feeling. 

‘ ‘ Just before sunset. I don’t work on the ma- 
chines after dark. We can’t have any lights here 
and besides it’s too delicate to tinker with unless 
you know just what you’re doing.” 

“ Where is Hoffmann now?” inquired Harold. 

“That’s more than I can say.” 

* ‘ Haven ’t you any idea where we can find him ? ’ ’ 

“Do you want to see him?” 

“Not particularly,” laughed Harold, “but I 
would like to know where he is. He’s a very in- 
teresting man. ’ ’ 

“Huh!” retorted Burnett, “I can’t say as how 
I agree with you. ’ ’ 

“Do you know where he came from?” inquired 
Bob. 

“I don’t know anything about him except what 
I have seen since I’ve been here. I can’t say that 
that is all I wish it was either. ’ ’ 

“What have you seen?” asked Harold. 

“It isn’t so much as what I’ve suspected. Ever 
since Harrison was shot ” 

“You don’t think Hoffmann had anything to do 
with that, do you ? ’ ’ interrupted Harold sharply. 

“I’m not saying anything about it. I’ve a right 


152 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


to my opinion and you have a right to yours. I’m 
just expressing my opinion, that’s all.” 

“But what makes you think he knew anything 
about the shooting of Sam Harrison?” demanded 
Harold. 

“I haven’t said that I did know anything. I’ve 
tried to explain to you that I may have an opinion, 
but that’s no more than my right.” 

Burnett had succeeded, in spite of the fact that 
he had made no specific charges against Hoffmann, 
in strengthening the suspicions of both his visi- 
tors. It was manifest now that he had no inten- 
tion to say any more about his helper and Boh 
asked eagerly, 4 6 Do you think I can count on hav- 
ing my machine ready for me by to-morrow morn- 
ing?” 

“I think you can not ,” Burnett said sharply. 

“When then can I have it?” 

“I told you you might have it when it is ready.” 

Boh was annoyed hy the indifferent manner of 
the man before fifth, but a glance from Harold 
warned him to remain goodnatured. 

“All right,” he said lightly. “I may count 
upon it by noon.” 

“Huh,” said Burnett. “You can count upon it 
when it’s ready.” 


AT THE LISTENING POST 


153 


Early the following morning Harold received 
word that he was to return at once to the trenches. 
This line was somewhat nearer the little hamlet in 
which he had been billeted than were other parts 
of the same trenches. 

In response to the eager request of Bob, who 
declared that he would be free for a time, as his 
machine was not yet ready, Harold promised to 
do his utmost to obtain the privilege for his 
younger brother to visit the place in which he was 
to be stationed for two or three days. 

After he had explained to the captain the posi- 
tion which Bob held in the flying corps, consent 
was given for Bob to accompany his brother al- 
though he was not to be permitted to remain long 
or to do more than inspect some of the strange 
structures which the men had made. 

“This is the quietest day on our front since 
General Pershing took over this sector,’ ’ reported 
Lieutenant Harold after he had entered the 
trenches and then returned to the place where his 
brother was awaiting him. “There wasn’t 
anything going on last night except the regular 
patroling and a little sniping. One man was 
wounded, but that was an accident. Now,” he 
added, “I have obtained permission for you to go 


154 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


with me. I’m to be placed in one of the advanced 
listening posts. I’ll take my stand in the front 
and you will be several feet back of me somewhere 
in the sap.” 

Bob was unable to conceal the excitement which 
instantly seized upon him. To be in the trenches 
was an experience which he had not expected to 
have. Nor would he have been able to obtain the 
privilege had he not already manifested his loy- 
alty and bravery by what he had done in his ser- 
vice in his aeroplane. 

Harold’s caution to be silent was not required. 
Breathlessly and on tiptoe Bob followed his 
brother until at last he arrived at the spot he was 
seeking. There he was left by the young lieuten- 
ant, who himself passed on to the listening post 
which he was to occupy. 

In spite of his fear, for Bob was unable to con- 
ceal from himself the fact that his hands were 
trembling, he was impressed by the change which 
had come over his older brother. To Bob, Harold 
had long been the personification of most that was 
worth while in life. On the football field, in his 
classes, even when Harold was a prize speaker in 
the school contest, in each case it had seemed to 
Bob that his brother excelled all his competitors. 


AT THE LISTENING POST 


155 


Indeed, his indignation when the prize for speak- 
ing was not awarded to Harold was an experience 
which at this moment flashed again into his mind 
and he even smiled as he recalled the good-natured 
manner in which his brother had received the an- 
nouncement. 

In a brief time Harold disappeared from sight. 
It was a comfort to Bob to know that he was not 
far away, but even his brother in a measure was 
forgotten when he began to devote his time to the 
purpose for which the listening post had been 
established. 

For a time nothing unusual occurred. There 
was the roar of the distant guns, the crackling of 
rifles not far away, but there was no great excite- 
ment and yet at any moment there might be an 
onrush of the German soldiers. The listening post 
had not been established for idle curiosity. Al- 
though Bob was in a less exposed and important 
place, nevertheless he was doing his utmost to 
hear any sounds that might suddenly arise. 

His nerves had not become quieted and it seemed 
to the young aeronaut that every part of his body 
was tense. It would have been difficult for him to 
explain, or even to describe the feeling which 
swept over him. 


156 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 

And yet Bob Cook was not one to lose his head. 
Already his experiences had taught him that the 
man who remains cool was the one who in the main 
was less subjected to danger. 

At that moment, however, he noticed a sudden 
movement not far before him. Instantly he was 
persuaded that one of the Boches was approach- 
ing the trench. Without hesitating a moment Bob 
seized the hand grenade which had been left with 
him and hurled it in the direction from which the 
unexpected movement had been seen. 


CHAPTER XV 


WOUNDED 

B EFORE the excited young aviator dodged 
back to safety he was horrified when he dis- 
covered that the man standing near the 
spot where he had hurled the grenade was none 
other than his own brother Harold. The young 
lieutenant also was keenly aware of the peril in 
which he was at that moment. 

Without losing his self-control the young of- 
ficer instantly seized the grenade which had fallen 
at his feet, and savagely hurled it toward the Ger- 
man trenches. He acted almost without thought. 

The grenade had gone into the air only a few 
yards when with a loud report it exploded, the 
small bits into which it had been broken being 
scattered on every side. The explosion was so 
near and at the same time so severe that Harold 
was shaken by the report. He struggled forward 
a few steps and then fell to the ground. 

157 


158 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


Horrified by the sight, Bob Cook, unmindful of 
his own peril and that he might be a mark for the 
sharpshooters in the nearby trenches of his ene- 
mies, instantly darted forward to the help of his 
fallen brother. He was delighted when he ap- 
proached the spot where Harold was lying to see 
him attempt to rise. 

Harold glanced behind him at the same moment 
and as he discovered that Bob was approaching, 
instantly his thoughts were of the peril of his 
young brother, although as yet he was scarcely 
able to speak. ‘ ‘Go back! Go back!” he called 
hoarsely. 

Bob, however, was unmindful of anything save 
that his brother was still alive. It was impossible 
for him to discover whether or not he had been 
seriously injured by the grenade. He had seen 
him fall and that fact of itself was sufficient to 
convince him that the explosion had not been en- 
tirely in vain. 

Disregarding the warning, Bob still ran for- 
ward though he was crouching low as he advanced. 
Such action was almost instinctive on the part of 
every American soldier. Perhaps this was due to 
the influence of the years when their ancestors 
were contending with the savage warriors of the 


WOUNDED 


159 


forests, or it may have been due to the desire to 
make of themselves the smallest possible targets 
at the time. 

In a moment Boh was by the side of his brother. 
“Are you hurt?” he inquired in a tone that only 
partly expressed his agony. 

* 6 1 don ’t know. I don ’t know, ’ ’ murmured Har- 
old, who was still unable to rise. 

“I’ll pull you back, ’ ’ suggested Bob. For a mo- 
ment the intrepid boy glanced in the direction in 
which he knew the trenches of the Germans had 
been made. He was aware that he was a mark 
easily seen against the background of the low-ly- 
ing land. Somehow he was not as frightened as 
he thought he should be when he had pictured to 
himself the possibility of his being in the front 
line. In a measure the peril of his own special 
feat did not seem as great as that which beset his 
brother, who much of his time was in the trenches. 

Indeed, now that he was doing his utmost to res- 
cue Harold it was of his brother’s danger he was 
thinking more than of his own. Exerting all his 
strength and seizing Harold by his shoulders he 
slowly dragged him back toward the listening post. 
It was not more than six feet distant, and yet Bob 


160 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


was convinced that never before had two yards 
covered such an extent of territory. 

Hteadily he drew toward the place he was seek- 
ing and when a moment later he had succeeded in 
gaining the spot and was aware that neither he 
nor Harold had been shot, the reaction came and 
for a moment Bob found himself trembling like a 
leaf shaken by the wind. 

His anxiety, however, still was his uppermost 
feeling and quickly he began to examine Harold 
to discover whether or not he had been seriously 
injured by the exploding grenade. 

Two other soldiers approached the place at this 
time and by their combined investigations they 
were convinced that as far as outward manifesta- 
tions were concerned Harold had escaped serious 
harm. The shock had been the cause of his fall 
and in falling the thousand missiles of the gre- 
nade had passed over him. 

“I shall not go back to the hospital,” declared 
Harold when one of the soldiers suggested that he 
would be better cared for if the surgeons could 
look after him. “I’m all right,” he repeated. 
“You let me stay right here.” 

By this time, however, his captain had been in- 



‘Seizing Harold by his shoulders he slowly dragged him back” 

Page 159 








WOUNDED 


161 


formed and came running toward the spot where 
Harold was seated. 

He was quick in his decision that there was no 
other course to he followed except for the young 
lieutenant at once to report to the hospital. 

“It's impossible for you to tell whether you’re 
all right or not,” said the captain. “You have no 
marks on the outside, but you don’t»know what has 
happened to you inside. You must go back for an 
examination anyway.” 

Reluctantly the young lieutenant was led away, 
Bob himself accompanying him at the suggestion 
of the captain. 

When they arrived at the base hospital whither 
they had been carried in an ambulance, much to 
Harold’s disgust, a speedy examination was made 
by the surgeon in charge. “You’re all right, 
young man,” said the doctor, when his examina- 
tion was complete. “You ought to rest up for two 
or three days, because you have had a tremen- 
dous shock. You’ll be all right, however, at the 
expiration of that time.” 

“I must go back now,” said Bob, an hour later. 
“My machine was to be ready before noon. If 
I can get some one to go with me I’m going to 
start straight back for the place where I belong. ’ y 


162 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“ Don’t let Hoffmann go with you,” suggested 
Harold warningly. 

“No danger of that,” laughed Bob, who was 
greatly relieved now that it was plain that his 
brother had not suffered any serious harm. “I 
would like to have Burnett, but I don ’t want Hoff- 
mann.” 

“I’m not so dead sure about that,” said Harold. 

“What do you mean?” inquired Bob quickly. 

“Somehow I’m not convinced that Burnett is an 
angel. He may be perfectly straight, but I don’t 
like some things I’ve seen.” 

“What?” demanded Bob. 

“I can’t talk about them now,” said Harold 
wearily closing his eyes as he spoke. “I know 
you’ll be on the lookout,” he added, “and I don’t 
need to say any more. Good-by,” he added, ex- 
tending his hand toward Bob, who now that the 
time for his departure had come was dreading 
the final leave-taking. 

“Good-by, Harold,” replied Bob, as he grasped 
his brother’s hand. 

In silence the clasp was broken, each boy 
looking keenly into the eyes of his brother. Both 
were aware of the peril that surrounded them. 
This might be the last time either would see the 


WOUNDED 163 

other. And yet this was a part of the fortunes of 
war and they must meet it like men. 

Abruptly and without once glancing behind him 
Bob departed from the hospital, stopping only to 
secure a promise from an orderly that he would 
keep him informed as to Harold’s progress and 
condition. 

Outside the building Bob found an ambulance 
which was to be taken back to the little hamlet 
where he had been staying the last two nights and 
easily obtained consent to accompany the driver. 

This driver Bob soon discovered was a taciturn 
young student from one of the western American 
colleges. He had volunteered to serve with his 
unit, but the experiences he had undergone evi- 
dently did not render him more talkative. He re- 
plied briefly to two or three questions Bob asked 
of him and then lapsed into a silence which was 
not broken throughout the ride. 

Without reporting at the house in which he and 
his brother had been billeted Bob at once made his 
way to the hangar. He discovered that no one 
was near his own machine and at once began his 
inspection. Somehow the words of his brother 
warning him to be on the lookout against Burnett 
as well as against Hoffmann, although Bob did not 


164 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


agree with him in his fears, nevertheless caused 
him to make an unusually careful inspection of 
the 'plane. 

While he was engaged in this occupation Bur- 
nett himself approached. “What are you doing?" 
inquired the mechanic. 

“I’m just inspecting my machine and seeing if 
you have finished everything." 

“ It is all ready for you, ' ' said Burnett shortly. 

“You think I do not need to examine it then?" 
inquired Bob, standing erect and smiling as he 
spoke. 

“You can take my word for it." 

“I'm not disputing that," said Bob, “but I like 
to see for myself just what I'm up against. Some- 
times a man forgets and I have even known men 
who sometimes made mistakes." The young avia- 
tor was smiling and there was no venom in his 
words. Burnett, however, was angered by what 
he had heard and advancing to the side of Bob 
he said, “I'll go over every detail with you if 
you want me to." 

‘ ‘ That 's all right. That 's mighty good of you, ' ' 
assented Bob, who still continued his investiga- 
tions. 

In a brief time he was convinced that as far as 


WOUNDED 


165 


he could discover, everything about the ’plane was 
as it should be. 

“I’m ready to start now,” he said as he glanced 
at the clouds to discover the direction in which the 
wind was blowing. “I think I’ll wait until I have 
had something to eat,” he added, “and if you 
don’t mind I wish you would go and bring me 
something.” 

“I don’t mind a bit,” said Burnett, whose good 
nature apparently had been restored. “Look 
out,” he added a moment later in a low voice. 
“Here comes somebody who mustn’t be left alone 
a minute with that machine. ’ ’ 

Bob glanced up and to his surprise saw Hoff- 
mann approaching. 


CHAPTER XVI 


BOB RETURNS 

B OB was equally surprised when Burnett 
abruptly departed from the place. He had 
not once glanced behind him and the call 
which Bob almost gave him was checked as Hoff- 
mann drew near. 

Bob was aware that the newcomer also was 
watching the departing Burnett. His face, how- 
ever, was expressionless and the young aviator 
was unable to decide whether it was with relief or 
suspicion that Hoffmann was regarding the de- 
parting mechanic. 

In a few moments, however, Burnett had turned 
the corner of a building and was no longer to be 
seen. 

“Is your machine ready f ” inquired Hoffmann, 
brusquely, as he turned to Bob. 

“Yes,” answered Bob. “I have been looking 
at it, though I haven’t finished my examination. 
Burnett says everything is in apple-pie order.” 

166 


BOB RETURNS 


167 


Hoffmann made no response, but at once began 
to inspect the various parts of the machine. 

Surprised as Bob was by his actions he did not 
speak and keenly watched Hoffmann as he in- 
spected the various parts of the aeroplane. 

It was evident that Hoffmann was out of temper. 
In response to Bob’s questions he replied gruffly 
and then only in monosyllables. 

Meanwhile his inspection was most thorough. 
Indeed Bob was impressed by the carefulness with 
which the man inspected every detail. 

“You find it all right, don’t you?” demanded 
Bob somewhat loftily when at last Hoffmann fin- 
ished his task. 

“I do not,” replied Hoffmann slowly. 

“You don’t? What’s wrong?” 

“Do you know anything about the machine 
yourself?” 

“I ought to know, — something at least,” an- 
swered Bob sharply. 

“Then come here and look at these wires. Do 
you know what would have happened after you 
had gone up four thousand feet?” 

Bob did not answer, but instantly approached 
the man and followed his direction as he ex- 


168 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


amined the wires to which his attention had been 
called. 

Almost as if they had been cut by a file two of 
the slender holding wires of the great wings had 
been cut. Only a small fraction of the wire had 
been left intact. 

For a moment Bob was chagrined at the thought 
of his own failure to detect what had been done. 
A moment later his sole feeling was one of re- 
joicing at the discovery of the dastardly work. 

“Do you know who did that?” he demanded 
turning almost fiercely upon Hoffmann as he 
spoke. 

“ I do not, ’ 9 answered Hoffmann slowly. He was 
apparently neglectful of the young aviator, for 
he was at once preparing to remedy the condition 
of the wires. 

“What are you doing?” demanded Bob quickly 
as he saw Hoffmann at once preparing to restore 
the damaged wires. 

“Iam obeying orders.” 

There was nothing more for Bob to say and in 
silence he watched the man as he worked steadily. 
Question after question forced itself upon the 
mind of the troubled boy. Wlio had been guilty 
of cutting the wires ? If he had flown it was quite 


BOB RETURNS 


169 


likely that Hoffmann ’s words would have been ful- 
filled. Under the pressure of a strong current of 
wind the wires doubtless would have broken and 
the wings would have buckled. In the event of 
such a mishap there was no question in Bob’s mind 
as to the outcome. 

Apparently the picture of the falling machine 
was seen in his imagination and yet the boy was 
seriously troubled by the fact that it was Hoff- 
mann who had discovered the defect. Both he and 
Harold had been suspicious of the man for a long 
time. How was it possible that he could have dam- 
aged the wires and then at the same time been the 
one to discover the damage? Did his conscience 
trouble him? Was he simply repenting of the 
evil he had done? 

The questions were too subtle for Bob to an- 
swer. In silence he watched the man as he con- 
tinued at his task and when at last the wires had 
been repaired Bob was in such a state of mind 
that he was uncertain whether or not he ought to 
start. “ There you are,” said Hoffmann, as he 
arose and confronted the young aviator. ‘ 4 1 think 
you’re all right now from top to bottom.” 

Bob’s fears in a measure were allayed and yet 
the suspicions he had cherished against Hoffmann 


170 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


were still strong. If the man had found wires that 
had been tampered with, for there was no question 
that they had been cut, might it not be possible 
that other parts of his machine also were wrong? 
He had joined in the later inspection and was un- 
able to discover anything out of order. In a brief 
time he declared his readiness to depart and pre- 
pared to leave the hamlet. 

The young American soon found that his feel- 
ing of nervousness was leaving him. As he 
climbed higher toward the heavens and discovered 
that every part of his machine apparently was 
working smoothly he even began to enjoy the 
new sensations. It was a relief once more to be in 
the air. Far beneath him he saw the American 
trenches and the little improvised hospital to 
which his brother had been taken. Bob’s confi- 
dence, however, that Harold was not badly injured 
and in a few days would be able to resume his 
place, was so strong that the thought of his plight 
speedily was ignored. 

On and still on flew the swiftly moving machine. 
There was scarcely a cloud to be seen in the sky. 
Across from the enemy lines there were no signs 
of the approach of his foes. Indeed, Bob, for a mo- 
ment, if he had been equipped with bombs, thought 


BOB RETURNS 


171 


that he would enjoy a flight behind the German 
trenches. He laughed as he pictured to himself 
the surprise of the Huns if he should drop bombs 
in the rear of their formations. 

He was now moving rapidly. In a brief time 
he would be back again in the place from which 
he had started. He had telephoned concerning 
the mishap which had overtaken him and also just 
before he started had sent word that he was com- 
ing. What a marvelous system the telephone work 
of the army was, he thought. What strange places 
were made for the receivers in all sorts of ap- 
parently impossible localities ! The wires had been 
strung so that like the nerves of a body the great 
wire force was in touch with every part of the 
army. Indeed, Bob recalled the remark of Harold 
that the telephone system in the army was like the 
nervous system in his body. If he was wounded 
in the foot the announcement instantly was flashed 
to his brain and his whole body suffered in con- 
sequence. 

Still Bob was unable to discover any enemies. 
This fact was strange because the day was clear 
and his own flight was within plain sight. Per- 
haps his machine was looked upon as too insignifi- 
cant to demand the attention of the Boches. The 


172 EOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


suggestion irritated the young aviator and he 
glanced for a moment behind him, almost hoping 
to discover the approach of a German flier. 

Bob’s experience was so limited, however, that 
he was by no means confident he would be a match 
for a skilled or experienced enemy. He had not 
even dreamed how soon he was to be pitted against 
one of the foremost German airplanes. 

At last he was aware that he was nearing the 
place he was seeking. As he dropped toward the 
ground he saw also that there was unusual 
activity about the spot. By this time he had for- 
gotten all his fear concerning his own machine. 
It had behaved beautifully since he had started 
and not a mishap had occurred. 

As he began his descent, however, the young 
aviator was startled when he became aware that 
something was wrong with one of his wings. When 
he was high in the air Bob well knew that his own 
peril was less than when he was trying to land. 
Indeed, the supreme peril of the aviator increases 
markedly as he draws closer to the earth. 

For a time Bob Cook ignored all his theories in 
his efforts to bring his machine safely to the 
ground. He was only dimly aware of the excite- 
ment about the hangar and for the time was not 


BOB RETURNS 173 

interested in the assembly, now plainly to be seen 
below him. 

Bob’s fear now was that bis engine might fail. 
As he drew the nose of his ’plane up into the air 
for a moment he was fearful that a collapse would 
come. For a brief instant the machine trembled 
and stood motionless as the power of the engine 
was hardly sufficient now to overcome the force of 
the wind and the attraction of gravitation. 

Slowly he dropped backward and then in a mo- 
ment found that he was making several involun- 
tary flights, even his steering apparatus seemed 
to have gone wrong. A quick glance below re- 
vealed the interest of the crowd which now was 
watching his approach. Several times his ’plane 
circled as it steadily dropped toward the ground. 

By great good fortune as he approached the 
earth the power once more came back to his en- 
gine, the great wings seemed to right themselves 
and almost before he was aware of what had oc- 
curred he found himself safely at the landing 
field. 

Quickly his friends rushed to his relief. Bob, 
however, by this time had in a measure recovered 
from his alarm and was doing his utmost to ap- 
pear calm. As he stepped once more upon the 


174 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


ground some of the machinists quickly took his 
machine in charge, greatly to the relief of the 
young aviator. 

At that moment Albert Rice, another flier who 
also had come from High Ridge, approached Bob 
and said, “How far have you been?” 

“Only a few miles,” answered Bob. 

“Don’t you want to go out with me?” 

“Where are you going?” inquired Bob quickly. 

“We’re going to make a raid. Jack can’t come 
with me. I need some one to manage the gun.” 

“Of course I’ll come,” said Bob quickly. “You 
arrange for it and I ’ll be ready. How soon do you 
plan to start?” 

“We’re going out within five or ten minutes. 
The plan is to cut across the lines and then to drop 
some bombs behind the town.” 

“I’m with you,” called Bob excitedly. 

It was to be his first experience as an active 
participant in a squadron and he was eager to 
assume his share. In a brief time he had returned 
and the half-dozen machines were ready to start. 

It was not long before Bob had taken his seat 
prepared to use the gun which was so mounted 
that the shots were to pass between the blades of 
the propeller. 


CHAPTER XVII 


THE FIGHT IN THE CLOUDS 

I N a brief time the squadron had risen and was 
flying high above the ground. 

His recent experiences had deeply stirred 
the heart of Bob Cook for this was to be his most 
serious flight. He glanced at the face of Albert 
and saw that his companion was elated, but at the 
same time exceedingly serious. Without doubt 
some of the machines which were setting forth 
toward the German lines would not return. 

Meanwhile the squadron was steadily mounting. 
There were seven in the entire fleet and when they 
had gained a height of 3,000 feet signals were dis- 
played for formation. 

Formed like a flock of wild geese the ’planes 
turned eastward. In advance was the machine 
which Bob knew was in the control of Lieutenant 
Mulford. Many a time he had talked with the dar- 
ing young officer and had been eager to accompany 
175 


176 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


him on some of his perilous expeditions. Already 
this dashing young leader was known as an ace. 
There was no one whom Bob had met since he had 
arrived in France whom he more deeply respected 
or whose judgment he more highly prized. 

The machines were making at least seventy-five 
miles an hour. Already the air was cold and Bob 
found that the protective garb he had donned was 
needed. Very heavy padded gloves were on his 
hands which rendered the movements of his fin- 
gers somewhat awkward. He was hoping as he 
glanced a moment at the gloves that they would 
not interfere with his activity when later he should 
be called upon to use the gun. The thought of the 
gun caused him to look again at the little weapon. 
How harmless it seemed to be ! And yet he well 
understood how deadly would be the effect of its 
shots if he found his mark. 

The gun was stationary. The aim would de- 
pend entirely upon the skill of Albert as a pilot. 
In the letter which Bob had written home during 
the time of his prolonged stay with Harold he had 
explained this phase of the work, for his father 
had inquired concerning the maneuvering required 
when he had a contest with his enemies. Albert, 
however, was one of the most skillful pilots and 


THE FIGHT IN THE CLOUDS 177 


Bob was confident that his chances at least would 
be as good as those of his foe. 

The signal now was given for the fleet to mount 
still higher. Upward the great birds flew until 
Bob saw that they were at least 10,000 feet above 
the earth beneath them. It was not long before 
he was able to discern forces of the Germans. 
There were faint outlines too of the trenches which 
had been dug by the persistent enemy. He was 
so high, however, that if he had not been 
skilled in this work he would have been unable to 
distinguish any of the outlines. 

The fleet, however, did not pause. The flight 
now became swifter. They were moving at least 
eighty-five miles an hour. Neither of the boys 
had been told what the destination was to be, but 
the fact was manifest that bombs had been placed 
in the aeroplane and that the gun also was likely 
to be used, and Bob had no difficulty in concluding 
that some place of importance was about to be 
attacked. 

In the mist below him Bob distinguished sev- 
eral little hamlets. The flight, however, at this 
time was so swift that he gave slight heed to what 
he saw. The air was now intensely cold and al- 
ready his hands were somewhat numb. Keenly 


178 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


he watched the nearby clouds which might be the 
hiding-place of German ’planes that had been sent 
forth to meet them. Frequently French or Amer- 
ican machines had been suddenly and unexpect- 
edly attacked by an enemy who had been lying in 
wait behind some great cloud. 

As they passed on, however, the presence of no 
enemy was discovered and the spirits of the two 
boys accordingly arose. There was a keen ex- 
hilaration in the very movement of the ’plane 
which now seemed almost like a thing alive. 

Again the speed was increased and the fleet 
mounted still higher. Bob saw that a height of 
twelve thousand feet had been registered. No 
signal, however, had been given for a change in 
the direction in which they were moving, and the 
great structures, almost like things that were 
alive, held steadily eastward. 

At last a signal was given for the speed to be 
slackened. Far away beneath them Bob saw a 
village which he was positive must be at a con- 
siderable distance behind the trenches of the Ger- 
mans. Was this place to be the point of attack! 

The question speedily was answered. ‘ ‘ That’s 
Saarburg,” shouted Albert. “That must be the 
place we are going to bomb.” 


THE FIGHT IN THE CLOUDS 179 


Bob’s excitement instantly increased. For one 
who had never flown far behind the German lines 
he was remarkably steady. His hand was not 
trembling nor did he have any feeling of fear. He 
was, however, keenly aroused by the sight of Saar- 
bnrg as well as by the suggestion of his compan- 
ion. 

The fleet now was scattered. Orders had been 
signaled for every one to circle the town and drop 
bombs upon the place. It was strange, the young 
aviator thought, that no enemy ’plane had ap- 
peared. Would the Germans permit the little city 
in Lorraine to be spoiled without any attempt to 
defend it? If so it was the first occurrence of that 
character of which Bob had heard. 

He speedily was busied with his task of drop- 
ping bombs. Although the fleet was still high 
above the place the houses and streets were plain- 
ly discernible. Bob even thought that he could 
make out the forms of people moving along the 
quaint streets. 

The squadron was still at least ten thousand 
feet high. It was difficult to discover just how 
correct the aim of the gunners was. Bomb after 
bomb was dropped and occasional bursts of smoke 
were seen, but whether these were due to passing 


180 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


locomotives or were the effects of the bombs 
themselves it was wellnigh impossible to deter- 
mine. The attack continued several minutes. Bob 
had dropped all the bombs except one in his ’plane 
when he was startled by an exclamation from Al- 
bert. 

“ There come the Boches! They are after us,” 
he shouted. 

In his excitement, Bob hit the heavy gloves 
which he had taken off while he was dropping 
bombs. He had placed them where he thought 
they would be safe, but his sudden action caused 
them to fall. 

For a moment Bob in dismay watched the fall- 
ing gloves and ruefully glanced at his hands. Al- 
ready the intense cold had make his fingers numb 
and his hands were swelling. What he might be 
able to do with the gun in case of attack seemed 
somewhat dubious. He glanced in the direction 
indicated by Albert, and counted eight ’planes 
swiftly approaching. Toward their own ’plane 
one of these enemies was driving in from the side 
and a moment after Bob discovered its approach 
he fired his gun. The bullets also whizzed close 
to the machine of the young Americans and as yet 
Bob had been unable to get his piece into action. 


THE FIGHT IN THE CLOUDS 181 


In a brief time, however, he succeeded and as 
Albert changed the direction in which they were 
flying and now was headed straight towards the 
enemy Bob turned a stream of bullets into the 
Germans. A cry of alarm came from Albert at 
that moment. The German returning the fire also 
had sent a stream of bullets, some of which punc- 
tured the wings of the machine in which the Amer- 
icans were flying. The sound of the bullets as they 
struck the cloth was distinctly heard. Even Bob 
paused a moment as with bated breath he looked 
to see whether or not any serious damage had 
resulted. 

To his relief the great bird apparently had not 
suffered from the hail of lead and iron. At all 
events, it quickly responded to the control of Al- 
bert and there were no signs of a collapse. 

“ Shoot! Boy, shoot !” shouted Albert in his 
loudest tones. “You have them in range. Now 
this is your chance.” 

Instantly Bob fired a fresh stream of bullets. 
Before the first drum was exhausted the machine 
of his enemy doubled and then began to spiral. 
Like a bird with a broken wing it fluttered and 
flopped and its speed increased as it fell. Sud- 


182 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


denly there was a flash of smoke and flame that 
appeared in its wake. 

Too excited to give voice to their elation the 
young Americans watched the descending machine 
which speedily was wrapped in flames. There 
could be no question as to the fate of their ene- 
mies. Perhaps already they had perished in the 
flames. 

For a moment Boh glanced behind him and saw 
that the other ’planes in the fleet were far away. 
Apparently the lieutenant had met with some mis- 
hap or believed himself to be so greatly outnum- 
bered by his enemies that he was speeding for 
home. It was soon manifest that the pursuers 
were not equal to the task. In spite of the danger 
which beset him Bob was almost fascinated as he 
watched the race. His interest, however, was 
speedily broken when suddenly Albert shouted, 
“Look out! Here comes another one after us.” 

Bob glanced in the direction indicated by his 
comrade and far away discovered a ’plane which 
confidently was holding straight for them. 

“We must run for it,” shouted Albert, “I am 
not sure enough of our machine. It may have 
been hurt when the other fellow hit us.” 

It was speedily evident that even if the ’plane 


THE FIGHT IN THE CLOUDS 183 


had been struck by the bullets from the machine 
guns, apparently it had not been seriously dam- 
aged. Swiftly and still more swiftly it darted 
through the air, making for home. Bob was aware 
that one of the fleet had already met with mis- 
fortune. He saw that it was beyond the control 
of its pilot and was falling in such a manner as 
to insure its landing within the lines of the Ger- 
mans. Was a similar fate to overtake him? The 
question was supreme in his thoughts, and he anx- 
iously turned to Albert urging him to make all the 
speed in his power. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


THE PATKOL 

I N the meanwhile the injury from which Harold 
was suffering proved to be only temporary. 
In a brief time he had recovered from his 
shell-shock and was ready to return to his place 
in the trenches. 

As a consequence, two days after the occurrence 
Lieutenant Harold was once more in the front 
trenches watching for snipers. 

It appeared that many snipers 7 posts were in 
the ruins of old buildings which had been de- 
stroyed by knocking down with shells the shelters 
over the heads of the Germans. Snipers also had 
found hiding-places in bushes or in shell-holes. 
Many of these troublesome pests had been routed 
by the American sharp-shooters, who with un- 
usual daring had succeeded in making an end of 
the annoyance. Several times they had succeeded 
in locating some of the positions held by these 
troublesome Germans and when daylight appeared 
184 


THE PATROL 


185 


they had demolished the position with their ar- 
tillery fire. 

This task had been nearly completed when late 
in the afternoon Harold once more resumed his 
place at the front. 

Nor had he been long there before Captain Car- 
ter sought him out and explained what was about 
to be attempted. 

1 1 There is an advanced German trench that still 
troubles us,” explained the captain. “I do not 
know but I had better let you and three or four 
men try it out and see what you can find there.” 

“We shall be glad to go,” replied Harold 
quietly. 

In spite of his words and manner, however, the 
young lieutenant was aware of the great peril that 
confronted him in the proposed enterprise. It was 
thoroughly understood among the men that these 
patrols not only incurred great danger but that 
it was not unusual for such a party to return with 
only a few of the men that had started, even if 
they were successful in returning at all. 

However, the young lieutenant thoroughly un- 
derstood that this was the work which must be 
done. And Americans too must be prepared to act 
as bravely as the French and English forces on 


186 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


either side of them. It was therefore, with a clear 
appreciation of the peril that was about to con- 
front him that Harold sought out Corporal Wells 
and two privates who were to accompany him on 
the perilous errand. 

The night promised to be unusually dark. In 
a way this was a protection, but there was a com- 
pensating increase in the danger also, for the star- 
shells, because of the intense blackness of the 
night, rendered all the more distinct any objects 
within range. 

The wire entanglements in front of the trench 
in which Harold and his men were waiting had 
been carefully cut in such a manner that those who 
did not know would not have suspected it was 
different from the adjoining places. 

Cautiously and slowly the young soldiers 
climbed out of their trenches and crouching low 
advanced toward No Man’s Land. At any mo- 
ment they might be discovered by the watchful 
foe. Their nerves were tense and in spite of their 
coolness of manner every one was watching for 
the expected star-shells which suddenly might be 
thrown. Without being seen the four men picked 
their way carefully across the ground intervening 
between the hostile lines and at last found them- 


THE PATROL 


187 


selves within touch of the wires which the enemy 
had stretched in front of their own line. Still 
moving with the utmost caution they crawled be- 
neath this line and then slowly drew near the most 
advanced of the German trenches. 

Their eyes by this time were somewhat ac- 
customed to the dim light. No one had molested 
them, nor had any sign of the presence of their 
enemies been seen. They now approached the 
trench so closely that they were able to look down 
into it. 

As far as appearances went the place had been 
abandoned, nevertheless, the young American ad- 
venturers were positive that snipers somewhere 
were hidden nearby. 

At last Harold whispered, “ We must drop down 
there into that trench. Don’t make any noise.’ ’ 

No reply was made, but as Harold led the way 
and silently slid down into the trench, he was 
quickly followed by his three companions. 

When they arrived at the bottom of the trench 
they stood motionless and silent for a brief time 
listening intently to discover if their approach 
had been seen, or if any of their enemies were in 
the immediate vicinity. 

Silence rested over the region. Even the boom- 


188 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


mg of the distant guns served here only to in- 
tensify the stillness. It was strange, the young 
lieutenant thought, that the trench should present 
every mark of having been abandoned. 

Silently he drew from his pocket a small electric 
torch which was lighted for one brief instant and 
held close to the ground. By its light the foot- 
prints that manifestly had been made recently 
were plainly seen. The light was extinguished 
almost before it was possible for an enemy to dis- 
cover it, and then, for double protection, the four 
young Americans moved quietly and quickly to- 
ward their left. 

When they had advanced fifteen feet they again 
halted, two facing one direction and two the 
opposite, as all four watched and listened for 
signs of the coming of their enemies. 

The strange silence, however, was still un- 
broken. The boom of the distant cannon still was 
the only sound to break in upon the stillness of the 
night. Apparently the Germans had abandoned 
the trench in which the Americans were now 
standing, but why they should have done so was 
a question for which as yet the young lieutenant 
had not found any answer. 

When several minutes had elapsed and still 


THE PATROL 


189 


there were no signs of an attack the young lieu- 
tenant again whispered a command and the four 
men slowly proceeded through the trench. They 
frequently stopped to listen for sounds which 
might indicate the presence or the coming of other 
foes. The sounds, however, were not heard and at 
last Lieutenant Harold concluded that the trench 
indeed was also unoccupied. 

Convinced that he had discovered the true con- 
dition of affairs he again whispered his command 
and cautiously the four soldiers climbed out of 
the German trench. 

On the parapet they discovered a rifle, which 
after a hasty examination was found to be loaded. 
It was pointing in the direction of the American 
trenches, but there was not a German near to fire 
the gun. 

Without explaining his purpose Harold quickly 
took the rifle with him and started, with eyes keen- 
ly watching, and the men crouching as they ran, 
they moved back across No Man’s Land. 

There was peril now that they might be mis- 
taken by their own soldiers for Germans. A sig- 
nal had been agreed upon, however, and this the 
young lieutenant gave as he came near the Amer- 
ican trenches. 


190 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


His signal speedily was answered and with re- 
newed confidence the four boys pressed forward 
and soon once more were safe in the trench from 
which they had departed. 

Captain Carter was there awaiting their com- 
ing. About him too were assembled several other 
officers who were deeply interested in hearing the 
report which the daring young lieutenant had 
brought. When he had set forth on his expedi- 
tion the officers had promised to remain two hours 
at the place where he had left them. That he 
should have returned so soon was a matter of 
surprise to them all, but their congratulations 
were none the less hearty when Harold speedily 
related their adventures and described what they 
had discovered in the trench they had visited. 

Puzzled by the report the captain said, 4 4 What 
do you think it means ? ’ 9 

“I’m sure I don’t know,” answered Harold. 
“We must have crawled through two hundred and 
fifty feet of the trench. There wasn’t a German 
anywhere to be seen.” 

‘ ‘ How long do you think they had been gone ? ’ ’ 
“Not very long,” replied Harold. “We lit a 
torch for a minute and saw some footprints in 
the mud. They were fresh and that shows the 


THE PATROL 


191 


Germans have not been gone a great while. Why 
they went, I cannot tell you. You asked us to go 
out and find what was there. We did not find any- 
thing except the empty trench and this rifle which 
I brought back with me.” 

The gun was passed from hand to hand and ex- 
amined with interest. 

“It is a typical German rifle and was made in 
Berlin,’ ’ explained the captain after he had ex- 
amined the weapon. “It’s in good condition, too. 
Well,” he added, “if you didn’t do anything more 
you at least have subtracted one rifle from the 
supply of the Germans. But you did a good deal 
more than that. You found out what I wanted 
very much to know and now I am ready for the 
next step.” 

Harold did not answer though he looked with 
keen interest into the face of his superior officer. 

“I’m going to send a small expedition to find 
out what the condition is off to the right of those 
trenches where you were.” 

“It will be daylight soon,” Harold ventured to 
suggest. 

“Yes, I know, but I think we can finish this up 
before the sun rises. You and your men have had 
some experience to-night. Do you want to go on 


192 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


this expedition f I am not detailing you, but leav- 
ing it to your own judgment whether or not you’ll 
join.” 

“Of course we’ll go,” answered Harold 
promptly. 4 ‘ How many men are to start ? ’ ’ 

“Ten,” answered the captain promptly. “I’ll 
put you in charge, if you wish. ’ ’ 

“I shall be glad to serve,” answered Harold 
quietly. 

The result of the interview was that a half-hour 
later the lieutenant, together with the corporal 
and the two men who had accompanied him in the 
former expedition now, together with six addi- 
tional comrades taken from the ranks, once more 
started out through the protecting wires and 
moved steadily across No Man’s Land. 

Again they approached the spot where they had 
slid into the German trenches. Still no sight of 
their enemies had been obtained. Perhaps the 
success which had attended their other efforts, 
now made them somewhat bolder. Harold was 
doing his utmost to restrain the impatience of his 
followers and induce them to use every precaution. 
Although all were aware of their peril, somehow 
the spirit of daring had entered every one and 


THE PATROL 


193 


they were inclined to be less mindful of the pre- 
cautions which usually were taken. 

Turning now to his right Harold led the way 
as the men cautiously proceeded through the ap- 
parently abandoned trench. Again they frequent- 
ly stopped to discover whether or not their com- 
ing had been seen. 

After a half-dozen such stops Harold suddenly 
discovered that there had been a break of some 
kind in the trench. Very likely it had been caused 
by the explosion of some great shell which had 
landed there wrecking the entire structure. At 
all events he was convinced that they were on the 
border of an unusually large shell-hole. Here 
snipers might be concealed, and indeed he was 
fearful that he had discovered one of the very 
places which Captain Carter had indicated as con- 
taining nests of the detested sharpshooters. 

Speaking cautiously and yet in such a manner 
as to make certain that he was heard, Harold 
leaned over the edge of the shell-hole and called 
to the Boches who might be concealed within it, 
“Come up out of that and surrender.” 

To his amazement his call instantly was an- 
swered. In the dim light he discovered a huge 
German climbing out of the hole and then he ap- 


194 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


proached the place where the Americans were 
waiting. The German soldier was holding his 
hands high above his head. He whiningly called, 
“Kamerad! Kamerad!” 

“All right,” answered Harold in English, for 
he was unable to speak the language of his foes. 
“Come this way.” 

Suddenly and without warning the German drew 
a revolver when the corporal’s back was turned 
and shot the young American in his hack. 

Rage instantly placed Harold’s men almost be- 
yond his control. Angered, as well as outraged 
by the dastardly deed they were ready to throw 
themselves into the shell-hole, after the treacher- 
ous German soldier had quickly been disposed of. 

Harold now took a bomb in his hand and crawl- 
ing to the edge of the shell-hole cautiously in- 
quired, “How many are you down there?” 

A voice answered him, but he was unable to dis- 
tinguish what was said. 

Without waiting for any further information, 
however, the young lieutenant instantly threw his 
bomb into the hole, shouting as he did so, “Divide 
that among you. ’ 9 


CHAPTER XIX 


A STEALTHY APPROACH 

T HERE was a report that was heard many 
yards away. In the confined space the 
bomb had exploded with a noise that was 
terrific. Above the sound of the explosion, how- 
ever, there were heard the cries and calls of men. 
Only a moment had passed before the shouts 
ceased and silence again rested over the region. 

The early morning light was now appearing 
and the young Americans were able to distinguish 
one another as they stopped, horrified by the re- 
sults of Lieutenant Harold ’s throw. 

Before a word was spoken Harold, drawing his 
revolver, leaped down in the shell-hole. His com- 
panions gathered about the border and stared 
down into the dark pit. Not a word was spoken. 
Anxiously they waited for word from their young 
leader, while each man continued to hold his 
revolver ready for instant use, if occasion de- 
manded. 


195 


196 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


Not many minutes had elapsed when Harold re- 
joined his comrades. In reply to their unspoken 
questions he smiled as he said, 4 ‘ There were five 
Boches in that shell-hole.” 

“ What happened to them?” inquired one of the 
soldiers. 

“ There isn’t one left.” 

“Served ’em right! Men who follow such a 
leader as they had, who would hold up his hand to 
surrender and then shoot in the back the man that 
had spared them, deserve all they got.” 

Harold said no more except to order the men 
to withdraw from the spot. 

When they had regained the position they first 
had held at the time when they entered the trench, 
he stopped and called his men close to him for a 
whispered conference. 

“It’s plain,” he said, “there are not any of the 
Huns in this trench.” 

“That’s right, Lieutenant,” said the soldier 
who before had spoken. “What do you think it 
means ? ’ ’ 

“I am trying to figure that out, ’ ’ answered the 
young lieutenant. 

Harold was seriously perplexed by the dis- 
covery he had made. Why a trench equipped as 


A STEALTHY APPROACH 


197 


the one in which they now found themselves 
should have been deserted, it was difficult for him 
to understand. If the trench had been destroyed, 
as frequently the German trenches had been by 
artillery fire, he could understand why the line for 
the most part had been abandoned. But there, 
were only spots that had been ruined. For the 
most part the trench was in good condition and 
capable of holding at least one hundred and fifty 
men, 

“I think we have done all we can do for the 
night,” said Harold at last. “I want all of you 
to go back to your company/ ’ 

“ Aren’t you coming with us!” inquired the sol- 
dier who still was the spokesman of the little 
band. 

“Pm coming a little later/ ’ explained the lieu- 
tenant. “Hold on,” he added, “I’ll have two of 
you stay with me. I want one of you to go back 
to that shell-hole where I divided that bomb 
among the Germans. He must stay there until he 
hears my whistle. It may be two minutes and it 
may be two hours. I want you,” he added turn- 
ing to another soldier, “to take your stand about 
half the distance between here and the shell-hole. 
You’ll stay there until you hear my whistle. If 


198 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


I blow one blast, that means you’re to come at 
once. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Come where 1 ’ ’ inquired one of the men. 

“Right here where we are now. I’m going to 
stay here and watch for a while. I’m suspicious 
that the Boches have gotten up some kind of a 
trick in leaving this place as they have and I want 
to find out what it is if it is in my power. ’ ’ 

The men at once took the positions assigned 
them while the remaining members of the detach- 
ment made their way in the dim light across No 
Man’s Land. Harold watched them as long as 
they were to be seen and then at once prepared 
himself for the difficult task which confronted 
him. Inactivity was even more difficult for him 
to endure than the peril which attended their more 
active efforts. He watched and waited until half 
an hour had elapsed and then gave a low whistle 
which speedily summoned his companions. 

“I’ve decided,” he explained, when they had 
rejoined him, “that there isn’t any use in staying 
here any longer. It will be light in a little while 
and as soon as the sun rises we can watch almost 
as well from our own lines as we can from this 
place. Besides,” he added, “it will be safer for 
us if we go now than it will be a little later. We 


A STEALTHY APPROACH 


199 


have cleaned out one nest of snipers, but there 
may be two or three more of such cases and if 
there are, we’ll make too good targets for the 
sharpshooters if we go when they can see us more 
plainly. ’ ’ 

Hastily climbing out of the trench, Harold and 
his two companions, crouching as they ran, swiftly 
passed through the wire which had been cut. 
They stopped long enough to readjust the en- 
tanglement sufficiently to deceive an observer. 
When this had been accomplished they again ran 
swiftly toward their trenches and without a shot 
having been fired slid back into the places they 
had formerly occupied. 

“I’m so sure,” explained Harold to Captain 
Carter, “that there’s some trick afloat, that I 
want to stay right here for an hour or two yet. ’ ’ 

“Haven’t you had enough to satisfy you for one 
night V’ inquired the captain. 

“I want to stay here a while,” answered 
Harold. 

“You’ll be pretty much alone,” suggested the 
captain. “As soon as I found out that the 
trenches over there were not occupied I sent some 
of the men away because there was a heavy call 
for them off to our right.” 


200 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


‘ ‘ That ’s all the more reason why I should stay 
here,” declared Harold. 

“Have it your own way,” said Captain Carter 
quietly, as he turned and departed from the place. 

For a time the silence was almost oppressive. 
The young lieutenant found that his thoughts 
were wandering. He was thinking of Bob. Had 
he made a successful trip to his airdrome? The 
question recalled Hoffmann and the suspicion with 
which Bob had regarded him. The thought of 
possible treachery increased the anxiety of the 
young officer. He had all of an older brother’s 
sense of the right to protect his younger brother. 
It was almost impossible for him to conceive of 
Bob’s acting in an independent capacity, and yet 
his brother was taller and stronger than he. 

Harold’s thoughts instantly were ignored when, 
in the light which now was stronger, he thought he 
detected movements on No Man’s Land directly 
in front of him. He climbed a little higher and 
recklessly peered over the edge. In a brief time 
he was convinced that he was correct. Like mov- 
ing shadows he discerned a body of men moving 
across from the trenches of the enemy toward the 
very spot where he himself was standing. The 
men crouched low, but 4ie had no question that 


A STEALTHY APPROACH 201 

they were enemies. And how many there were 
of them! 

Almost fascinated by the sight, he watched 
them closely as they advanced to the place where 
the wire entanglement had been cut. Indeed, 
they apparently were so confident, that Harold 
suspected they were aware of the place to seek. 
Had they been informed of the fact that the wires 
had been cut ? Again, for a moment, there flashed 
into the mind of the young officer thoughts of 
Hoffmann and Burnett. Had one of them been a 
traitor? If he had, there was no question in his 
mind that Hoffmann was the guilty one. 

The forms of the Germans before him now pre- 
vented Harold from thinking of anything except 
the approach of the enemy. How many there 
were of them! Although he could not plainly 
discern the outlines he was convinced that there 
were at least forty in the approaching party. 

He hesitated a moment whether to fire upon the 
advancing men, or to send a call for help. The 
sight, however, was almost fascinating and Har- 
old found it was well-nigh impossible for him to 
turn away his eyes even for a moment. 

In advance crept a soldier who apparently was 
the leader of the party, and Harold smiled grimly 


202 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


as he thought of the common report that the Her- 
mans were sparing of their officers who were re- 
ported to follow, rather than lead, most of the 
dangerous expeditions made by their men. 

He was keenly excited when he saw the men 
advancing through the wire entanglements. It 
was evident that they knew just where to go. 
This would not have been possible had they not 
been informed by some one of the place which had 
been cut. Harold, angered at the thought of the 
treachery of some one in or behind the American 
lines, now was so keen that for a moment he was 
almost unmindful of the peril that confronted 
him. He was the only watcher for a distance of 
at least sixty feet. The captain himself had ex- 
plained that he had withdrawn men from the 
vicinity for use in another position not far away. 

At that moment Harold saw the leader of the 
Germans suddenly climb over the bank and drop 
into the trench. He was not more than twenty- 
five or thirty feet distant. Still the young lieu- 
tenant did not leave his position. He watched 
four more of the Germans as they stealthily fol- 
lowed the example of their leader. The re- 
mainder had thrown themselves upon the ground 
and were motionless until the last of the party of 


A STEALTHY APPROACH 


203 


five had disappeared within the trench, then five 
more advanced in the same cautions manner, and 
hastily climbed into the trench and doubtless 
joined their comrades. This made ten who were 
in the trench and were close to him. It was high 
time for him to act. It would not he long before 
the entire force of forty would be together in the 
trench and with their coming there was great 
danger of damage to the lines as well as of the 
loss of many lives. 

The young lieutenant was tempted to warn his 
fellow soldiers, who were not more than one hun- 
dred feet away at his left. The Germans now 
were between the guards. At his right he was 
confident there were none of his own men within 
fifty feet. 

His thoughts were abruptly broken when, in the 
dim light he saw stealing toward him a crouching 
German. He himself was hidden from the sight of 
the approaching men by a hollow in the excava- 
tions. It was impossible, however, for him long 
to escape detection. The blood was bounding 
through his veins and his heart was beating so 
loudly that it seemed to him the enemies must 
hear the sounds. 

Still he did not leave his post. 


204 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


The leader of the Germans now had partly 
arisen and was advancing more boldly. Evi- 
dently he was as puzzled to account for the fact 
that the trench was not strongly held as Harold 
himself had been when he had entered the German 
trench. 

The approaching Boche now was not more than 
ten feet away. The time for action had arrived 
and the young lieutenant prepared himself to 
meet the effort he was about to make. 


CHAPTER XX 


A DOUBLE SUMMONS 

I T is time for ns to return to follow the for- 
tunes of Bob Cook, whom we left with his 
friend Albert doing their utmost to land 
safely after their exciting fight in the clouds. 

Both boys had been so deeply interested in 
watching the fall of the German machine that they 
had not fully realized the danger which now beset 
them. Now, however, after their enemy had 
fallen to the earth, they instantly were deeply 
concerned for their own safety. 

The expression of Bob’s face was tense as he 
watched Albert. The latter had not once glanced 
aside, for the condition of the wings of the great 
bird was now the supreme problem. If they had 
not been too badly riddled by the shots of the 
Germans it was still possible for them to bring 
their machine to the earth. On the other hand, 
the strain of their swift descent would soon de- 
termine whether the wings could endure the pull. 
205 


206 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


The descent of the machine was so swift that 
these thoughts passed through their minds with- 
out the young aviators realizing how rapidly they 
were drawing near the ground. Soon they 
clearly distinguished the outlines of the airdrome* 
and saw their friends standing nearby and watch- 
ing their maneuvers. The critical moment had 
arrived. Meanwhile Bob was unable to do any- 
thing to assist his companion. His hands were 
swelled to twice their normal size. He was not 
conscious of any pain in his fingers, though as he 
glanced at them he was scarcely aware that they 
belonged to him. 

Off to their left he saw two other flying ma- 
chines approaching the airdrome. Apparently, 
they had escaped without harm and the daring of 
their pilots was manifest in the deeds which they 
performed in their descent. It was plain that the 
pilot of each was highly elated over the outcome 
of the struggle and was doing many tricks which 
in ordinary times would not have been seen. 

Bob and Albert now were not more than three 
hundred feet above the ground. Bob was aware 
that Albert was even more fearful than he had 
been any moment since they had begun to fall. 
Indeed, the anxiety of his companion was the chief 


A DOUBLE SUMMONS 


207 


source of Bob’s fears. He had never known 
Albert to lose control of himself, but the excite- 
ment which now possessed him bade fair to over- 
power him. 

Twice the ’plane shifted from the direction it 
had been following and when it was righted, in 
each case it was done in a manner that increased 
the fears of Bob. However, he had not once 
spoken since their descent began. They now 
were able to hear the calls and shouts of the men 
below them. It was plain that they already had 
received some word concerning the fall of the 
German plane. In spite of his own peril, Bob’s 
heart swelled with pride as he thought of the 
success which had attended his effort. Already 
he pictured to himself the welcome which would 
be given them both when they once more safely 
landed. 

Again the machine threatened to pass beyond 
their control. It lurched heavily to one side and 
threatened to loop the loop without any direction 
on the part of the pilot. Once more it righted 
itself and the descent continued. They were now 
within one hundred feet of the ground. An ex- 
pression of grim determination suddenly ap- 
peared upon Albert’s face and it was plain that 


208 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


lie had decided to take the one chance that was 
left. 

As if the aeroplane was in as good condition as 
when he started, he resolutely drove it forward, 
and to the waiting Boh it seemed only a moment 
before the landing was safely made. 

A great shout went up from the spectators 
when this was done and Bob himself joined in the 
hoarse cry, though it was difficult for him to ex- 
plain why he was doing so. Men rushed forward 
to help the boys alight. They were patted upon 
their backs and arms by the excited group and 
there were repeated calls for Bob to relate the ex- 
perience through which they had passed. 

“You’ll be called up by the commandant. 
You’re going to hear from this. It’s a great day 
in your life. We’re proud of you, Bobbie,” were 
expressions that were heard on every side. 

The pride in the heart of the young aviator 
naturally was great when he heard these words 
of praise. It was true that he had been the cause 
of the death of his two enemies, but in the great 
game of war this was looked upon as a necessary 
part of the struggle. It was impossible for Bob, 
however, to picture to himself how he would have 
felt if this event had occurred in the days of 


A DOUBLE SUMMONS 


209 


peace. He had been the cause of the death of a 
man! And now he was elated instead of being 
terrified by what he had done. 

He reassured himself, however, as he thought 
that he had acted as he had because there was 
left to him no other choice. He had not begun the 
war, nor had America sought any cause for the 
quarrel. His country had been attacked, her in- 
nocent citizens had been sunk without warning, 
her ships had been torpedoed, and her men had 
been wantonly killed. It was to protect the world 
from such horrors that America had raised and 
sent her great army to assist the Allies in their 
struggle against the unspeakable evil. Never, 
since the dawn of history had so many dastardly 
deeds been recorded as in the war which the Ger- 
man military party had thrust upon the world. 

However, Bob was not inclined to be unduly 
philosophical. The success of his venture and the 
warm words of praise of his comrades were still 
sounding in his ears and finding a warm response 
in his heart. It was good to be honored by men 
who appreciated the full measure of his daring. 

As soon as possible both aviators escaped from 
their friends and turned to the little house where 
they were billeted. The reaction from their in- 


210 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


tense excitement had come and both were feeling 
nearly exhausted. Indeed, it was not long before 
both boys were glad to seek their beds, where they 
both slept soundly until the following morning. 

Even then their first appearance was the occa- 
sion for renewed congratulations. When Bob 
compared himself with some of the successful 
French aviators, some of whom had brought down 
two score of enemy ’planes, he laughingly re- 
ferred to his awn efforts as being slight. 

“It’s a beginning,” declared Albert. “You 
have to count one before you can count forty.” 

The day passed without any summons for the 
boys to appear at headquarters. Perhaps both 
were somewhat disappointed at the failure to rec- 
ognize their bravery, for although they had mildly 
protested against the declarations of their friends 
that they would be summoned, each somehow in 
his own heart had confidently expected to receive 
such word. When it did not come both felt some- 
what aggrieved, although they did not betray by 
their manner the momentary feeling which had 
entered their hearts. 

The next day, however, the longed-for word 
came and both Bob and Albert were ordered to 
report the following morning. 


A DOUBLE SUMMONS 


211 


Thoroughly rested from the strenuous labors 
through which they had passed, the boys appeared 
before their superior officer and were modest in 
their relation of the fight in the clouds. The in- 
terest which their story aroused, however, was 
plainly manifest. The compliments were much 
more limited in number than when first they had 
returned to their comrades. As the words meant 
more, however, both boys were well content. 

“I have just received a message,’ ’ explained 
Major Wilder, as he called Bob to one side, “and 
it concerns you.” 

Bob, whose thoughts were still centered upon 
the recognition he had received, laughed as he 
said, “Is there still something left that hasn’t 
been said?” 

The expression upon the face of the major, 
however, caused him to glance keenly at the officer. 
The major was looking seriously, almost compas- 
sionately at the young aviator and Bob instantly 
felt that he was about to receive bad news. 

“Yes,” explained the major, “I have just re- 
ceived word over the ’phone that something has 
happened ” 

“To my brother?” interrupted Bob sharply. 


212 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


The major nodded quietly in response and then 
said, “I’m sorry to say it is.” 

“Is he ” began Bob, but he stopped, as he 

was unable to complete the sentence. 

“No,” replied the major, “it’s not as bad as 
that. I’ve been informed that he was out on 
patrol duty last night and was wounded. I was 
not informed how badly but I was told to ask you 
to go to the hospital where your brother now is. 
I can send you forward with an automobile.” 

“Is that all you have heard?” inquired Bob in 
a low voice. “I wish you would tell me every- 
thing, just as it is.” 

“I have done so, my boy,” answered the major, 
who was older than most of his fellow officers. 
“I have given you every word that was spoken 
over the ’phone.” 

“Can’t you call up again and find out anything 
more?” 

“Impossible,” said the major shortly. “The 
’phones are very busy and there are too many 
things to be talked of this morning to permit their 
use for anything else. You have received word 
that your brother was wounded, but the very fact 
that he wants you to come where he is and that I 
have been asked to release you shows at least that 


A DOUBLE SUMMONS 213 

lie is still able to be interested in what is going 
on.” 

“That may be,” acknowledged Bob seriously, 
“but it may mean that things are so bad that they 
want me there before they are worse.” 

“It isn’t necessary for you to look at that side 
first anyway,” said the officer. “If what you 
fear comes, you’ll have to bear it just the same as 
other men have. If it doesn’t come, you’ll have 
had your worry for nothing. There’s one thing 
you don’t have to do,” he added. 

“What’s that?” inquired Bob. 

“You don’t have to face the worst until the 
worst comes. Meanwhile you have just had word 
that your brother is alive and that he personally 
has asked for you to come to him.” 

The conversation ceased as Bob turned to fol- 
low the directions which the major had given him 
as to the place where he was to find the automobile 
which was to start for the little hamlet in which 
Harold had been billeted. There was a base hos- 
pital nearby to which the wounded young lieuten- 
ant had been sent. 


CHAPTEE XXI 


HAROLD FALLS 

W HEN Harold had discovered that the ap- 
proaching German would speedily be 
aware of his presence if he did not first 
make himself known, he instantly opened fire 
upon him. 

By this time five Germans had entered the 
trench. Harold had watched them all, fascinated 
by the sight as one after another had dropped 
over the bank. So fascinated had he been that 
for a time his own peril had almost been ignored. 
Now, however, that the German officer who was 
leading the band had approached so near him, he 
was aware that it was a choice between one or the 
other shooting first. 

In spite of the fact that thirty additional Ger- 
mans were outside the trench, the moment Harold 
fired confusion appeared in their midst. The 
young lieutenant’s automatic was working rapid- 
214 


HAROLD FALLS 


215 


ly and, although the light was dim, he had no diffi- 
culty in finding his mark. The Germans in ad- 
vance had instantly turned as their leader fell to 
the ground and frantically were endeavoring to 
make their way back to the place where they had 
entered. 

Two more fell before the point was gained and 
as the remaining men swiftly drew near they 
were saluted by the loud calls of their comrades 
outside. 

i ‘ Come out! Come out!” called the excited 
soldiers. Their words of encouragement were not 
entirely needed, but needless to say those who 
were within the trench were doing their utmost to 
obey, even before the command had been heard. 

“Come out! Come out!” again shouted the 
outside Germans. 

By this time the shouts had aroused men in 
distant parts of the trench who were running to 
the aid of those who they suspected had been at- 
tacked. 

There was danger now that Harold himself 
might be shot by his friends. Once before he had 
withdrawn into a slight hollow in the trench to 
avoid such a danger. When, however, the ad- 
vancing Germans had turned and fled, the young 


216 BOB COOK r S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


officer, unmindful of his own peril, had forsaken 
his retreat and started in swift pursuit. 

He was aware now that the firing was becoming 
general. From every part of the trench men 
had become informed of the invading band of 
Boches and were firing on them. The Germans, 
however, made slight response, for the supreme 
desire in the heart of every one, apparently, was 
to place the greatest possible distance between 
himself and the trench from which he had fled. 

Harold now whistled shrilly, giving the signal 
by which the Americans informed their comrades 
of the fact that there were friends and not ene- 
mies coming. Again the young officer paused and 
glancing over the edge of the bank fired once more 
at the Boches as he saw them floundering and 
struggling, frantically endeavoring to make their 
way through the opening in the wire entangle- 
ment and across No Man’s Land. It was soon 
plain that part of the band would safely gain the 
refuge of their own lines. 

Hand grenades then were seized and hurled by 
the excited American soldiers. Shouts also were 
heard above the roar of the guns and the confu- 
sion in the immediate vicinity was intense. 

Order was restored, however, by the coming of 


HAROLD FALLS 


217 


Captain Carter. Instantly demanding the cause 
of the confusion, he quickly gave his own com- 
mands, with the result that speedily the lines were 
reformed. For a brief time the captain hesitated 
as to whether or not he should send a party in pur- 
suit of the fleeing Germans. He speedily decided 
not to make the attempt. He was suspicious now 
that the Germans had left their trench vacant with 
the purpose of drawing on the Americans and 
leading them to believe that the place was unde- 
fended. Now, he concluded, when the sudden at- 
tack revealed the fact that this plan had failed, 
they had resolutely rushed across the intervening 
territory, relying upon finding the Americans un- 
prepared for a sudden onslaught. How badly 
awry their plans had gone was evident now, for 
twelve bodies of the fallen Germans were to be 
seen in No Man’s Land, while within the trench 
there were two more dead and one wounded. 

The entire adventure had taken only a very 
few minutes and the former condition of apparent 
inactivity had returned before Harold and his 
comrades fully recovered from the excitement of 
the unexpected attack. 

There was great elation, however, among the 
American soldiers over the story of the bravery 


218 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


with which the young lieutenant alone had thrown 
himself against the advancing line. 

“I think you ’ll hear from this,” suggested Cap- 
tain Carter when he and Harold were by them- 
selves once more. 

“I’m not foolish enough to say I shouldn’t he 
mighty glad to have something like that happen to 
me,” answered Harold. “But honestly I can’t 
say that I deserve it.” 

“You’re not the best judge of that.” 

“Perhaps not, but let me tell you, Captain Car- 
ter, I didn’t stop to think whether I was afraid 
or not, and I know I must have been dreadfully 
scared. I watched that Boche leading the way up 
the trench and before I really knew what I was 
doing I was after him. It wasn’t a question of 
being brave, it was simply a matter of life or 
death. ’ ’ 

“That’s all right,” answered the captain, 
“you’ll let the colonel decide that for you.” 

Suddenly the captain stopped abruptly in his 
conversation and pointing toward No Man’s Land 
said in low voice, “There’s one poor fellow out 
there who isn’t dead. He seems to be suffering, 
too.” 

Harold instantly turned and looked in the direc- 


HABOLD FALLS 


219 


tion indicated by bis friend. For a moment, in 
silence be watched tbe contortions of the soldier 
who evidently was suffering agonies. 

“I can’t stand that,” said Harold after a few 
moments. “I can’t help it even if he is a Boche, 
I’m going to try to get him out of that.” 

Captain Carter hesitated and then made no pro- 
test. 

The feeling between the contending enemies 
had become so bitter now that seldom did one sol- 
dier help an enemy even if the latter was placed 
entirely within his power. 

Instantly Harold crawled to the top and hold- 
ing his handkerchief above his head moved 
toward the place where the German had fallen. 

The purpose of his attempt must have been 
plain even to the men in the German trenches. 
For a time the intrepid young soldier moved 
on without molestation. He was fully aware that 
many eyes were watching him and that at any 
minute some enemy might make him his target. 

He had covered more than half the distance and 
not a gun as yet had been discharged. Was there 
a new day dawning! Had the time come when 
the bitter hatred of the preceding days was to be 
forgotten and the bravery of the young American 


220 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


soldier in attempting to rescne a wonnded enemy 
to be recognized as a source of honor by both 
armies ? 

Harold’s face was deadly white, but his step did 
not falter. Still holding up the white handker- 
chief he increased the speed at which he was mov- 
ing and began to run toward the man who now 
was only a few feet distant. 

A moment later he had gained the spot he was 
seeking. As he glanced into the face of the fallen 
soldier instantly he was aware that his attempt 
had been in vain. The man was now free from 
his suffering, for life had fled. The German 
was dead. 

Relieved by the sight, the young lieutenant in- 
stantly arose and turned toward his own trench. 
His back now was toward his enemies and the 
thought deprived Harold of a measure of his 
courage. When he had been moving with his 
eyes toward them somehow he had been able to 
control his every action. Now, however, when he 
was unable to see what was occurring behind him, 
a sudden panic seized upon him and he began to 
run at his topmost speed. 

He fled across No Man’s Land and was within a 
yard of his own trench when suddenly the report 


HAROLD FALLS 


221 


of a rifle fired to his left was heard and the daring 
boy was pitched forward, falling face downward 
upon the ground. 

Instantly a wild yell of rage arose from the men 
in the American trench. The young lieutenant 
had been exceedingly popular among his men, 
every one of whom now was willing to brave any 
danger in order to avenge his death. In a 
moment the reports of many rifles were heard and 
answering shots came from the German trenches. 
Hand-grenades, too, were thrown, although no 
men were to be seen. 

It was at this moment, when Captain Carter, 
after looking intently at the fallen young Ameri- 
can, turned to several of the men who were near 
him and said, “I don’t think the lieutenant was 
killed. Isn’t there some way or somehow one of 
you men can bring him in?” 

“There is, Captain,” spoke up a young Irish- 
man, “I’ll go out and get him myself.” 

4 4 Wait a minute,” ordered Captain Carter, as 
he turned again and looked critically at the place 
where Harold had fallen. 44 I was wondering,” 
he said, 4 4 if it would not be possible for some one 
to cast a rope over his body and pull him in with- 
out exposing himself. There are snipers and 


222 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


sharpshooters now all along the line and if any 
one exposes himself trouble will certainly come.” 

The suggestion, however, was not considered 
feasible and the young Irish soldier waited until 
there was a lull in the shooting and then suddenly 
threw himself over the embankment and crawled 
toward Harold, who had not moved from the posi- 
tion in which he had fallen. 

Before the Germans were fully aware of what 
was being done he had grasped the hand of the 
fallen lieutenant, while his own feet had been 
seized by his comrades and both men were speed- 
ily drawn within the trench. At that moment 
there was a renewed burst of fire and the hand- 
grenades were showered upon the American 
trench and loud shouts were heard from the Ger- 
mans. 

These matters, however, were ignored by the 
excited soldiers in the American trench. They 
were eager to learn of the fate of Harold. 

“I can’t find the mark of any wound on him,” 
explained Captain Carter, after he had made a 
hasty examination. “There’s a little blood here 
on the top of his head, but it looks as if it were 
only from a bruise or a skin wound. Perhaps he 
was grazed by a ball or hit by a piece of shrapnel 


HAROLD FALLS 


223 


and is not very seriously hurt. We’ll get him off 
to the hospital and see what can be done for him.” 

Willing hands lifted the young lieutenant to the 
stretcher, which was speedily brought, and the 
young officer was carried to the rear. 

Greatly to the delight of his attendants, the 
young lieutenant soon regained consciousness and 
when the ambulance arrived, which was to convey 
him to the base hospital, he was able to speak. 

At the hospital the judgment of Captain Carter 
was confirmed, but the surgeon in charge ordered 
Harold to be left in his care for a time, and word 
at once was telephoned for Bob to come. 


CHAPTER XXII 


THE COMING OF HOFFMANN 

T HE anxiety in the mind of Bob Cook in- 
creased as he drew near the hospital. He 
was an imaginative boy and his intense de- 
votion to his older brother now increased his 
fears. The message he had received had been 
somewhat uncertain. 

It was, therefore, with a feeling of great relief 
that Bob learned when he entered the hospital 
that Harold was not seriously wounded. Indeed, 
in response to his questions, the surgeon ex- 
plained that the young lieutenant would be out 
within a week or ten days. However, as Bob had 
secured a furlough for four days it was agreed by 
both the surgeon and Harold that the young avia- 
tor should remain at the hospital in order to as- 
sist in caring for his brother. His presence, too, 
was expected to help in the recovery of the 
wounded young officer. 

Two days after Bob’s arrival he and his brother 
224 


THE COMING OF HOFFMANN 225 


were sitting on the long piazza that extended 
across one side of the building. The afternoon 
sun beat in upon him and it was warm and delight- 
ful. It was manifest, too, that the patient was 
benefiting both from the change and the presence 
of his younger brother. The anxiety of Harold 
had seldom been concerned with what would hap- 
pen to him. He felt a keen responsibility, how- 
ever, for his younger brother and now that he had 
become the patient and his brother was in charge 
the condition was so reversed from what he was 
accustomed to observe that there was a quizzical 
smile on his face as he glanced at Bob. “It seems 
queer,” he said, “that you should be here looking 
after me.” 

“It is strange,” acknowledged Bob soberly. 
“Here we are more than three thousand miles 
from home. Neither of us knew just where the 
other was and yet just the minute there is any 
trouble, why here we are together again. It’s 
wonderful, I think. ’ 9 

“So it is,” acknowledged Harold, “but it isn’t 
half as wonderful as it is pleasant. You don’t 
know what it means to me to have you here. It’s 
well enough when a fellow feels all right, but when 


226 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


he is wounded or sick, that is the time when he 
wants some of his own people near him. ’ ’ 

Both boys were silent for a time, busy with 
their thoughts of the home in High Ridge. Each 
young defender had a vision of the dining-room 
in their far-away home. They pictured the 
quietness of the scene and the bravery of their 
mother and father as they faced the loneliness of 
their condition. And up to the time when the 
boys had left home the house had been the rally- 
ing place of many young people. There was ac- 
tivity and freedom which made every visitor at 
once feel at home. The contrast between what 
had been, and what now was the true condition, 
was too evident to be denied. 

However, as neither Bob nor his older brother 
was inclined to be morbid, they soon roused them- 
selves from such thoughts ; and Harold inquired, 
“Bob, have you heard anything more about Hoff- 
mann f ” 

“Not a word. Isn’t he here now?” 

“Yes, he’s here, or at least he was the last I 
heard. It’s mighty strange about him.” 

“Indeed, it is,” acknowledged Bob. “Why, we 
are suspecting him of the very thing which they 
tell us he is doing for the good of the army. It 


THE COMING OF HOFFMANN 


227 


may be that he’s in the secret service, as I was 
told when he drove Andrews * out of camp. I 
can’t help feeling, however, that if he does ring 
true, he has a mighty strange way of showing it.” 

4 ‘ Sometimes he posed as Burnett, didn’t he?” 

“He did that, and that’s the strangest part of 
all. The man Andrews, who was up with him, has 
gone. I’m so mixed up over the thing that I 
don’t know whether I’m going or coming. What 
do you really think about it?” 

“I’m as puzzled as you are.” 

“You really suspect that he had something to 
do with that sniping that killed Sam Harrison, 
don’t you?” 

“I confess I was a good deal puzzled when Hoff- 
mann showed up there while we were searching 
the house.” 

“Yes, but Burnett showed up, too.” 

“So he did,” acknowledged the young lieuten- 
ant. “One of them came around one corner and 
the other around the other corner of the house at 
the same time. You don’t suspect they could 
have been working together, do you ? ’ ’ 

“I hardly think that. At least, they didn’t 
have any marks of wasting any affection on each 

*See “Bob Cook and the German Air Fleet . ” 


228 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


other. It's a time when no one knows who his 
true friends are. They used to tell me in school 
that every man in America was entitled to be con- 
sidered innocent until he had been proved guilty. 
Now, here in the army, it seems to work the other 
way. You have to look upon every man as a 
rascal unless he can prove himself to be a saint . 9 9 

“It is not quite as bad as that,” said Harold 
with a smile. “But when you do find a man in 
the army that makes you suspicious of him you 
can't stop with any half-way measures. I wish 
the truth in this matter could be found out.” 

“Have you talked any more with Captain 
Carter?” 

“He doesn't like to talk about it. It's plain 
enough that he doesn't think he's crooked.” 

“My,” exclaimed Bob, “what a trick he could 
play on us if he should double-cross Captain 
Carter! I shouldn’t want to stand in his shoes if 
he were found out.” 

‘ ‘ Do you know, ' ' said Harold, trying to sit erect 
in his eagerness and quickly falling back into his 
reclining position, “I hadn't really thought of it 
in that way. Just suppose that he is employed by 
the United States in the Secret Service and then 
suppose that while he is in that Service he's all 


THE COMING OF HOFFMANN 229 


the time working for Germany. What a condi- 
tion that would make.” 

‘ 4 You’re right, it would,” exclaimed Bob. “I 
don’t know of anything more we can do though, 
to find out about it, do you?” 

“Didn’t you find that the wires in your machine 
had been tampered with just the way your friend’s 
were f ’ ’ 

“Almost the same,” acknowledged Bob. “I 
had a close call. Mine was the third machine that 
had been fixed in some way. Some fellow with a 
file had cut the wires that held the wings. I 
don’t know why it was that my machine didn’t 
double up and send me to the ground just the way 
poor Hugh went.” 

“And yet Hoffmann called your attention to it 
and fixed it before you had a chance to fly. ’ ’ 

“Yes, he did,” answered Bob, “but I found 
when I got back to the airdrome that he hadn’t 
fixed all the wires. If there had been a stiff 
breeze I should have gone to the earth just as sure 
as the sun rises. ’ ’ 

“Are you sure about that?” inquired Harold in 
a low voice. 

“Absolutely sure. We went over the machine 
from one end to the other and examined ever^ 


230 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


bolt and wire and even tested the wings to see if 
they had been cut, There comes the man now,” 
Bob added quickly, as excitedly he pointed toward 
a man who was walking towards the hospital. 

In silence both boys watched the approaching 
man and in a brief time both were convinced that 
it was indeed Hoffmann. Apparently, he was com- 
ing to the piazza. The boys had no means of 
knowing whether or not he was seeking either of 
them, but the fact of his coming was sufficient to 
arouse their criticism. 

“You had better go inside,” Bob suggested to 
his brother. 1 ‘ There may be more excitement out 
here than you ought to have. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Excitement nothing ! 9 ’ retorted Harold sharp- 
ly. “I’m going to stay right here and listen to 
what he has to say.” 

Neither of the boys spoke again until Hoffmann, 
who was slowly coming up the walk, apparently 
for the first time became aware of the presence 
of the brothers and at once turned aside to join 
them. 

“How are you!” he inquired in his deep voice, 
as he glanced keenly at the wounded young lieu- 
tenant. 


THE COMING OF HOFFMANN 231 


“I’m doing splendidly, ’ ’ replied Harold. 4 4 The 
Bodies didn’t get me that time.” 

“It wasn’t their fault,” spoke up Bob. Then, 
turning to Hoffmann, he inquired, ‘ ‘ Have you had 
any more ’planes filed lately?” 

“I understand there have been two or three 
such cases,” replied Hoffmann. 

“Did you find out before they left the han- 
gars?” asked Bob. 

“I found two,” answered Hoffmann. “One of 
the other mechanics named Burnett found an- 
other. ’ ’ 

“Who is this man, Burnett?” inquired Harold. 

“I don’t know whether he’s an American or an 
Englishman. He’s a good mechanic and knows 
his business,” explained Hoffmann. 

“Have there been any accidents around here 
lately in the air?” asked Harold. 

“I understand there have been several,” an- 
swered Hoffmann. 

“Was it found out that they fell because the 
wires had been filed?” 

“That’s the report.” 

“It seems to me that it’s about time this thing 
was run down. If there are men here who are 
doing such dastardly work as that, they ought to 


232 BOB COOK'S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


be run to earth and then stood up against the wall 
and shot like any other traitors, ' 9 said Harold. 

“Has any one found out the sniper who shot 
Sam Harrison V 9 asked Bob. 

“I believe there has been some report to that 
effect," answered Hoffmann. “Here comes Bur- 
nett, ' 9 he added as he pointed to a man approach- 
ing along the quaint little street. “He may be 
able to tell you." 

“Isn't it strange that these two men always 
hunt in pairs!" whispered Bob to his brother. 

Harold, however, made no reply and both boys 
eagerly awaited the coming of the mechanic who 
had greatly increased the mystery surrounding 
the death of Sam Harrison and the damage which 
had been done to the wings of the aeroplanes. 


CHAPTER XXm 


THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 

B URNETT did not seem in any way impatient 
as he drew near the place on the piazza 
where the hoys were seated. If he was 
aware of the constraint which both Bob and 
Harold felt he did not in any way betray his 
knowledge. 

“I was looking for you,” he said to Hoffmann. 
“You are wanted over at the shop.” 

4 ‘ What for ? ’ 9 inquired Hoffmann. 

“There’s some repair work on the major’s 
car.” 

“ I ’ll come right along, ’ ’ said Hoffmann, though 
he did not start. 

“What about those filed wires in my ’plane?” 
spoke up Bob, looking keenly at Burnett as he 
spoke. 

“What about them?” growled the mechanic. 
“Have you found out who did it?” 

“No, I’m not a member of the Secret Service. 
233 


234 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


How should I know? I’ve got all I can do to at- 
tend to my own business.” 

“You seem to be doing that fairly well,” re- 
torted Harold, angered by the manner of the man 
before him. 

“Maybe you’ll learn how to do that, too, when 
you’re grown up,” retorted the mechanic. Har- 
old’s face flushed and his irritation increased 
when Bob, unable to control his feeling of delight 
over his brother’s chagrin, laughed aloud. 

“They’ll find out who did that job,” drawled 
Hoffmann, who to all appearances was unmoved 
by the anger of the boy. “There hasn’t been any 
sniping going on around here lately,” he added, 
“so you boys can save your strength for the 
trenches.” 

Again Harold’s face betrayed his irritation. It 
was bad enough to be called a “boy” without hav- 
ing his younger brother nearby to take delight 
over the slight. 

Meanwhile, Hoffmann was ready to depart, and 
as he walked down the steps he turned once more 
to the boys and said, “Don’t be too hard on the 
man who caught the sniper.” 

“What did he mean?” demanded Bob, as he 


THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 235 


looked eagerly at his brother after the two men 
had gone. 

“I haven’t the remotest idea,” answered Har- 
old. “It sounded like nonsense, didn’t it?” 

“It was nonsense,” declared Bob, “and yet, I 
think both those men have some gray matter hid- 
den away in their heads. They weren’t born 
yesterday.” 

“You may be sure of that,” acknowledged the 
young lieutenant. “What I’m afraid of is, that 
we shall find it out to our sorrow.” 

The conversation ceased as the boys watched 
the two mechanics walking slowly down the 
quaint little street. In a brief time both Hoffmann 
and his companion turned the corner and were 
no longer to be seen. 

“Harold,” said Bob a little later, “I’m going 
to cut one day from my furlough. You’re just 
having a little vacation here and you don’t need 
me any more and there ’s something I can do back 
where I belong. ’ ’ 

“That’s all right, Bob,” said Harold, “I think 
the men were a good deal more frightened over 
me when I stumbled and fell than I was myself. 
At all events, aside from the bruise on the top 
of my head, I don’t find I have anything the matter 


236 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 

with me. I expect to he back in my place within 
a day or two. ’ ’ 

Much as Bob delighted in the presence of his 
brother, he nevertheless was eager to be back 
again in the task in which he took such delight. 
There was inspiration about the very fact of fly- 
ing. Bob did not tire of the sensation. When he 
rose ten thousand feet above the earth, he de- 
clared he felt as much at home as when his feet 
were on the solid ground. Just how much of his 
statement was due to enthusiasm, he did not ex- 
plain. 

Late that afternoon Bob returned to his quar- 
ters, Harold having promised to send word to him 
by telephone if everything at the hospital was 
not progressing to his satisfaction. 

So rapid was the recovery of the young lieuten- 
ant from the shock he had received, that three 
days afterwards he was permitted to resume his 
place in the trenches with his men. The surgeon 
had reluctantly consented, conditioning his per- 
mission, however, on a promise from Harold that 
he would not remain more than three hours a day 
in any place of danger, and also that he would re- 
port daily as to his condition. 

The enthusiasm of the young lieutenant, how- 


THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 237 


ever, was not as great as that of his brother. 
During his absence in the hospital there had been 
a second raid by a large force of Germans, with 
the result that several of the men in Harold’s 
company had been killed and others severely 
wounded, had been taken to the hospital. The 
anger of the soldiers over the gassing of their 
comrades was intense. One of them explained to 
the young lieutenant that the vapor seemed to 
destroy the very tissue of the lungs. One young 
soldier declared that never would he forget the 
agony of his own comrade as he slowly was suffo- 
cating. 

The fire, too, which the Germans had thrown, 
although fortunately it had not wrought great 
damage, had also served to intensify the anger of 
the young American soldiers. In return for such 
barbarous methods of fighting and such atrocious 
deeds as the Germans had wrought, they declared 
they would fight to the end. 

The first day of Harold’s experience in the 
trench after his return did not discourage him. 
He was so wearied when he was taken out that he 
was scarcely able to stand. However, he returned 
to his place the following day and was assigned a 
position in the trenches a little to the right of 


238 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


that which before he had held. It was late in the 
afternoon when he came and he was to remain 
until after darkness had fallen over the land. 

Harold was stronger now and the tiresome 
waiting did not affect him as it had the preceding 
day. There were occasional bombs dropped near 
the place he was holding and the roar of the great 
guns in the distance was unceasing. There had 
been no direct attack, however, made upon the 
place he was holding and when he prepared to 
withdraw he was not as weary as when he had 
returned the day before. He was moving directly 
behind Captain Carter, who had been on a tour 
of inspection in the trenches. 

Suddenly the captain stopped as they climbed 
out of the trench to a place of safety. He touched 
Harold on his left arm and in a low voice excitedly 
said, “Do you see that light in that window yon- 
der?” 

“Yes, sir,” replied Harold, looking intently in 
the direction indicated by his comrade. 

“I believe that’s a signal of some kind.” 

“Why do you think that?” 

“Because the light is intermittent. You watGh 
it.” 

Both officers became silent and motionless as 


THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 239 


they watched the feeble little light shining from 
the window of a house which fronted in the direc- 
tion of the German trenches. The captain did 
not speak when, after the lapse of a minute, the 
light suddenly disappeared. 

4 ‘We’ll wait,” whispered Captain Carter, “and 
see if it doesn’t shine again in about a minute. If 
it does then we’ll wait a little longer and see if 
the thing isn’t repeated. If it is it will show 
plainly that it is meant for a signal of some kind.” 

Harold’s excitement became intense when after 
the lapse of fifty seconds the light in the window 
again was shining. The young officer was con- 
vinced that the suspicion of his friend was well 
founded. This feeling became a conviction when, 
after a minute and a half had passed, the light 
again was dim and the darkness was unbroken. 
After another fifty seconds had passed the liglit 
again appeared. 

“It’s time for us to find out about this,” de- 
clared Captain Carter. ‘ 4 That old house is pretty 
nearly ruined anyway, and I didn’t think any one 
had been left there. We’ll go up there and find 
out about it. ’ ’ 

The young lieutenant now was eager to join the 
captain and search the house of which they were 


240 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


suspicious. They decided not to inform any one 
of their fears. If they should discover what they 
expected to find, then there would be need of re- 
porting to their commander. If, however, they 
found that their suspicions were false, then they 
would be saved the effect of making an uncon- 
firmed report of peril. 

Hastily the two men drew near the little brick 
building. It was a tiny structure containing 
not more than four rooms at the utmost. 

First, they passed to the rear of the house and 
stood for a moment near the partly ruined wall 
while they listened intently. Not a sound could 
they hear from within the building. 

“Stay here,” whispered the captain after a 
brief interval of silence. “I’ll go around to the 
front and see if that light is still there.” 

Only a few minutes had elapsed when the cap- 
tain returned and whispered to Harold, “The 
light is still burning and I ’m sure it is a signal of 
some kind. We must go in and find out about it. ’ ’ 

Both officers drew their revolvers and doing 
their utmost to proceed silently they entered the 
little building. Captain Carter insisted upon go- 
ing in advance, but Harold was close behind him 
and as he was slightly taller than his comrade he 


THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 241 

was able to see what might be discovered before 
them. 

When they had entered, both stopped and again 
listened intently. The silence still was over all. 
Only the roar of the far-away guns broke in upon 
the stillness of the night. 

“This is the way,” whispered the captain a 
moment later and he moved toward the upper 
room from which the light in the window had been 
seen. 

Harold still was close behind, his revolver held 
in his right hand. With his left hand he was able 
to touch the body of the captain. The night was 
not very dark and they were able to find their way 
without difficulty. 

Cautiously they mounted the low sloping stair- 
way, peering intently ahead of them for the dis- 
covery of any man in the building. Thus far 
nothing had o'ccurred to arouse their fears for 
their immediate safety. 

They discovered that there was no railing about 
the top of the stairway and as soon as they had 
mounted a few steps they were able to see directly 
before them. The sight, however, which greeted 
their eyes was one which startled both officers. A 
moment later they hastily mounted to the floor 


242 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


above them and with a shout dashed into the room 
in which they discovered the light which had 
aroused their suspicions when first it had been 


seem 


CHAPTER XXIV 


CONCLUSION 

A T the moment when the two soldiers hurst 
into the room some unknown parties out- 
side, evidently suspicious of the strange 
light, had fired directly through the window. One 
bullet had found its way into the head of Hoff- 
mann, who had pitched forward and now was lying 
dead upon the floor. Beside him, as Lieutenant 
Harold and his companion entered the room, Bur- 
nett was kneeling. It was evident that the latter 
was not only distressed by the fall of his compan- 
ion, for he was sobbing, but that he also was 
alarmed for his own safety. 

The consternation of Harold was great when, 
by the light that was blazing in the window he saw 
the two men of whom he had been suspicious and 
whose actions had so greatly confused him and 
his brother. What was the meaning of their pres- 
ence? Had they been working together or had 
one man detected the other in a crime? 


243 


244 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


Burning though these questions were, the sight 
of the man lying apparently lifeless on the floor 
instantly demanded the attention of the new- 
comers. Burnett apparently was not startled by 
their sudden entrance and was devoting his entire 
attention to the prostrate Hoffmann. 

‘ ‘ Let me see, ’ ’ suggested the captain as he, too, 
knelt beside the fallen man. “Take that light,” 
he added, speaking to Harold, “and bring it 
here.” 

“No, no, do not take the light,” spoke up Bur- 
nett sharply. 

‘ ‘ Take the light as I told you ! ’ ’ repeated Cap- 
tain Carter sharply. 

For a moment it almost seemed that Burnett 
was about to leap upon the young lieutenant and 
prevent him from carrying out his directions. For 
a moment he arose and stood uncertainly, but as 
Harold instantly leaped toward the window he 
evidently thought better of his purpose and 
quickly resumed his position beside Hoffmann. 

‘ i The man is dead, ’ ’ said Captain Carter short- 
ly, after he had made a hasty examination. 

“Yes, he is dead,” admitted Burnett, who again 
attempted to take the lamp from Harold’s hands 
and return it to its place in the window. 


CONCLUSION 


245 


"Leave the lamp here,” ordered Captain 
Carter. 

"But it belongs in the window,” protested Bur- 
nett. 

"It belongs where I tell you to place it,” de- 
clared Captain Carter. "Now, then,” he added, 
"I want you to tell me what this means.” 

"I don’t know what you want,” stammered 
Burnett. 

"You can tell me here or after I have taken you 
to the guardhouse, just as you please. Person- 
ally, I think your chances will be better if you tell 
me the whole story just as it is, than it will be for 
you to face a court-martial. ’ ’ 

Even in the dim light it was evident to both 
officers that Burnett’s fears had returned in full 
force. All three men had placed themselves out- 
side of the range of the window. Those who be- 
fore had fired at the target presented by the fight 
might again test their ability with their rifles. 

At that moment, however, heavy steps were 
heard on the stairway and a moment later two 
more soldiers entered the room. 

The surprise of the newcomers was great when 
they beheld Captain Carter and Lieutenant Har- 


246 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


old. They glanced from one to another and then 
at the body of the fallen man. 

“Did you fire that shot, Butler?” demanded 
Captain Carter, as he faced one of the newcomers. 

“I did, sir.” 

“Well, you have proved yourself to be a good 
shot. The man is dead. ’ ’ 

“Is that so?” stammered Butler. “We 
thought there must be something wrong because 
the light was changing so often. It would shine 
a bit and then it would be all dark again. We 
were afraid it might be a signal of some kind.” 

“I think your fears were well founded,” said 
the captain dryly. “We shall soon know more 
about that,” he added, not deeming it necessary 
for him to enter into a more complete explana- 
tion of the reasons why he and Harold had sought 
the place. 

“Don’t go, Butler, and you too, wait here, 
Hunt,” said the captain as he spoke to both sol- 
diers. “I would like to have you as witnesses, 
for my good friend Burnett here is about to make 
a statement which will interest you and may be of 
value. ’ ’ 

Turning to the trembling Burnett, who had cast 
frequent glances of longing toward the door, Cap- 


CONCLUSION 


247 


tain Carter said sharply, “Now then, we want yon 
to give ns your story.” 

“Hoffmann was a spy,” declared Burnett. “He 
was slick. He was working for the American 
Secret Service and at the same time was paid by 
the Germans for the work he was doing for 
them. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ How do you know that ? ’ ’ 

For a moment Burnett appeared to be con- 
fused. “I have the proofs,” he said a little 
later, “and I shouldn’t be surprised if you looked 
in his pockets now you might find some more 
papers that would back up what I have said.” 

“That’s a good suggestion,” said Captain 
Carter, turning to the young lieutenant. ‘ ‘ Search 
his pockets and see what you can find.” 

Harold did as he was bidden and in one of the 
inside pockets of the dead man he discovered sev- 
eral papers which he at once extracted and handed 
his superior officer. 

The lieutenant then held the lamp in such a 
manner that the captain was easily able to read 
the contents. 

When he had finished his inspection he turned 
again to Burnett. “Now, then,” he added, “I 
want your story from beginning to end.” 


248 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“Yes, sir,” replied Burnett, and then again be- 
came silent. 

“You may give it to me here, as I said, or you 
can face the court-martial, just as you wish.” 

“I’ll tell you now,” said Burnett. “I met 
Hoffmann two years ago. We were then in 
Chicago. He was working for the Germans and 
he was a good worker, too. He had four brothers 
in this country and every one of them was busy. ’ ’ 

“Do you know whether he had one in High 
Ridge?” broke in Harold. 

“Yes, sir, he did. He worked for a man named 
Cook.” 

“That’s just what I thought,” exclaimed Har- 
old, as he glanced a moment at the captain. 

“Go on with your story,” said Captain Carter. 

“Yes, sir. That’s right, sir. That’s just what 
I want to do,” said Burnett, whose fears now ap- 
parently were in a measure relieved, though it was 
not evident what had caused the change in his 
feelings. “Hoffmann was double-crossing the 
Americans. I thought I would try to do the same 
thing with him so I let him believe that I was fall- 
ing in with his plan. Finally, he got me to 
promise that we would come over here and serve 
as mechanics at some airdrome. We have been 


CONCLUSION 


249 


in three or more places since we landed in France. 
Hoffmann has worked in every place to the dam- 
age of the Americans and at the same time has 
managed somehow to get word to the Germans.” 

“Did you report this?” inquired the captain. 

“Yes, sir, hut he was working for the Secret 
Service so no one would believe what I said.” 

“Are you sure that he was not double-crossing 
the Germans just as he did the Americans?” 

“I can’t say for sure,” answered Burnett. 
“Sometimes I thought he was. To-night he got 
me to come with him here to place this light in the 
window of this old house. I didn’t know what it 
was for, but, of course, he must have meant it for 
a signal of some kind.” 

“You didn’t know what it was for?” 

“No, sir.” 

“Why, then, did you come?” 

“Because I thought I might be able to keep him 
from doing some things that would hurt the 
Americans. ’ ’ 

“You seem to have been a long time about it,” 
spoke up the captain. “You say you have known 
him two years and yet, in all that time, you never 
have been able to catch him in anything that would 
convict him?” 


250 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 


“That’s right, sir,” answered Burnett. “I 
haven’t. I have known what he was doing, hut I 
haven’t been able to get proof that would convince 
any one, not even the officers in the Secret Service 
themselves. I told you that I had reported to 
them, but not one of them would believe me. ’ ’ 

“Now,” said the young captain sharply, “tell 
us just what this signal was.” 

“I don’t know for sure, but I suspect it is to 
mark the place toward which the Germans may 
either direct their guns or make a charge. ’ ’ 

The captain for a moment looked sharply at the 
speaker and then said abruptly, as he turned to 
his companions, “The wisest thing for us to do 
will be to get out of this place. You come with 
us,” he added, turning to Burnett as he spoke. 

Obediently the men departed, Burnett, to all ap- 
pearances, being as eager to leave as any of the 
soldiers. 

“I’m going to leave him in your charge,” said 
the captain to Harold, when they had come out 
from the building. “Take him to the major and 
tell him what we have found out. I’m going to 
report higher up. ’ ’ 

Burnett refused to say more to the young lieu- 
tenant than he had already said in the house. It 


CONCLUSION 


251 


was not long before Harold bad turned his 
prisoner over to the proper authorities and a brief 
time afterward he was rejoined by his captain. 

The interest of the two officers in the prisoner 
they had taken was speedily lost in the greater 
interest that arose because of a mighty thrust by 
the German army. Apparently, the purpose of 
Hoffmann had been fulfilled. That is, if he had 
desired to provide a marked spot toward which 
the soldiers of the Kaiser might direct their ef- 
forts. A heavy artillery fire had been maintained 
for an entire day, and now this was followed by a 
sudden advance. 

Every American soldier was called upon sud- 
denly to do his utmost. The scene which followed 
was one which Harold never was able to forget. 
More like beasts than men, the struggling soldiers 
fought. Sometimes it was hand to hand. Great 
clubs and long knives were used. At last, how- 
ever, the German line gave away. There were 
many American dead left on the field and the 
number of those who were wounded was greater, 
than had before occurred in any similar thrust. 

It was not until the following day that Harold 
was able to see Captain Carter again. Fortu- 
nately both young officers had escaped serious in- 


252 BOB COOK’S BROTHER IN TRENCHES 

jury. Men by their sides had fallen and officers 
above and below their rank had been made prison- 
ers. 

The first words of the two friends naturally 
concerned the struggle and the losses which had 
been suffered. A moment later, however, Harold 
said, “How about that man, Burnett?” 

“He’s another one that tried to work the dou- 
ble-cross,” answered Captain Carter. “He had 
the goods right on him. The papers which I 
found in Hoffmann’s pocket convicted both men. 
Hoffmann was fortunate enough to get what was 
coming to him before we could get him. Burnett, 
however, has left the camp,” he added signifi- 
cantly. 

“Where has he gone?” 

“That depends entirely upon the kind of a life 
he has been living. Naturally he won’t have any 
difficulty in locating the place where the double- 
dyed traitor has taken up his abode. ’ ’ 

The great struggle, how'ever, was not yet ended. 
The experiences through which Bob Cook’s 
Brother in the Trenches had recently passed 'had 
simply strengthened his determination to remain 
in the army until the end. This conviction was 
shared also by his younger brother. The experi- 


CONCLUSION 


253 


ences, however, through which the two boys 
passed do not belong to the present tale. The 
record, however, has been kept and those who 
have been interested in the adventure of Bob and 
Harold may be glad to learn that in another story 
a more complete account will be found. 


THE END 






























































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